R008-9900

10                         A RESOLUTION REGUARDING 

20                 ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 



30    WHEREAS:	Many local school boards have policies which restrict student

40 		participation in extracurricular activities for violations of alcohol, 

50  		drug, and controlled paraphernalia regulations; and,                              



60    WHEREAS:	These policies include violations which occur off public school 

70	   	premises and which occur outside school hours; and, 



80    WHEREAS:	Students are prevented from participation in extracurricular 

90 		activities, which include both athletics and academic organizations, 

100  		the remainder of the current academic year; and,



110   WHEREAS:	The school systems exceed their disciplinary powers by 

120 		sanctioning students for these types of violations, which occur 

130  		outside school hours and off school premises; and,



140   WHEREAS:	These violations of state law, under the aforementioned  

150		circumstances, have no bearing on school management and 

160 		therefore disciplinary regulation is an infringement on the right of 

170		parents to discipline their children; and,



180   WHEREAS:	This disciplinary regulation a misconstrued in levying sanctions 

190 		only against those students who take initiative to participate in 

200  		extracurricular activities, thus allowing students whom have no 

210  		motivation in furthering education beyond the standard school day 

220  		to elude any penalty; and,



230   WHEREAS:	The policy mandates disciplinary regulations on all those who are 

240 		constructive possession of alcohol, drugs, and controlled 

250  		paraphernalia.  Therefore students in close proximity to these 

260  		substances would be subject to the removal from extracurricular 

270  		activities sanction, regardless of an any attempt to prove they had 

280    		no knowledge of the proximity of the aforementioned substances; 

290  		and,



300   WHEREAS:	This results in the highly questionable reliability of any

310 		disciplinary action taken towards students in constructive 

320           	possession as opposed to actual possession; and, 



330   WHEREAS:	Disciplinary action can be taken against students absent of any 

340		documented violation of state law; and, 



350   WHEREAS:	College acceptance and scholarships depend on both athletic and 

360 		academic extracurricular activities; and,



370   WHEREAS:	This policy would be detrimental to upper-class students pursuing 

380		higher education at a college level, and is therefore pernicious to 

390  		promoting education, the mission and function of all public 

400  		schools.



410   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:	That the Maryland Student Legislature calls 

420 		for the prohibition of disciplinary regulation preventing student 

430  		participation in extracurricular activities for violating school 

440  		policies on alcohol, drug, and controlled paraphernalia, which 

450  		occur both off school premises and outside standard school 

460  		operating hours.



470   MANDATES:	Governor Parris N. Glendenning

480 		Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

490		Senator Donald Munson

500		Honorable Delegate Robert McKee

510		Dr. Nancy S. Gramick, State Superintendent of Schools





Sponsored by:

Matthew J. Burger

Western Maryland College

2 College Hill

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8114