Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study is to analyze the eligibility policies governing high school student participation in extra/cocurricular activities adopted by selected public school districts in compliance to Assembly Bill 2613. Research methodology. Descriptive research was used for this study. A qualitative examination of the literature on policy implementation and achievement motivation was conducted. A questionnaire mailed to 258 public high school principals, whose high schools comprise the public high school membership of the CIF-SS, gathered data. One hundred eighty-one, 69 percent, of the questionnaires were returned in usable condition. The Chi square Goodness-of-fit test was administered to test for significance of difference. Selected findings. Public high school respondents indicated the following: 92 percent of the eligibility policies require a 2.0 GPA: 78 percent provide some remedial services; 64 percent include a probationary period; 81 percent are satisfied with their district's policy; 95 percent believe their district's policy is being well administered; 55 percent believe the quality of education at their school can be improved through AB 2613; 75 percent of the athletic leagues include schools with policies that differ in their level of stringency; and 69 percent believe their parents and students understand their district's eligibility policy. Selected conclusions. Respondent satisfaction with their district's eligibility policy and AB 2613 is high. Eligibility policy, GPA stringency level, established by AB 2613 as a minimum level only, has not been exceeded by a significant number of districts. When compared to district personnel, principals perceive that parents, along with the targeted population, students, understand their district's eligibility policy the least. The inconsistency of eligibility policy stringency level, within athletic leagues, is as of yet, not an issue of concern. Recommendations. Public school districts should: (1) conduct, on an ongoing basis, studies to determine the effectiveness of high school remedial programs and (2) launch a major program to better familiarize students and parents with their eligibility policy. Further research is recommended, throughout the nine remaining CIF sections, to determine the characteristics of eligibility policies and their remedial programs, and the perceptions of principals concerning those policies and programs.