BYLAW 111.00 TRANSFER AND RESIDENCE DOMESTIC STUDENTS 1. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition provided the student was in good standing on the date of withdrawal from the last school the student attended and one (1) of the provisions in Section 2 (below) is met. 2. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition if: A. 9th Grade Option: the student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time; B. Family Residence Change: the student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the new public school attendance area or a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents move. If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another, the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance of the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current enrollment options above, the student will be fully eligible upon transfer to the new school. A student who elects not to transfer upon a parent’s change in residence shall continue to be eligible at the school in which the student is currently enrolled. C. Court Ordered Residence Change for Child Protection: The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order. D. Custody of Student: A student of divorced parents who have joint physical custody of the student may move from one custodial parent to the other custodial parent and be fully eligible at the time of the move. The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12 inclusive. E. Move From Out of State: If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parent establishes a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota. F. Enrollment Options Program: A student who utilizes Minnesota Statute 124D.03 Enrollment Options Program, and transfers without a corresponding change of residence by the student’s parents shall elect one of the following: 1) retain full eligibility for varsity competition for one (1) calendar year at the school where the student was enrolled prior to the transfer after which time the student shall become fully eligible at the school to which the student has open enrolled; or 2) be eligible only at the non-varsity level in the school to which the student has open enrolled for one (1) calendar year. 3. If none of the provisions in Section 2 (above) are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one (1) calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance in the new school. A. Students are immediately eligible for competition at the non-varsity level. B. A student may not obtain eligibility as a result of a transfer. If at the time of transfer the student was not fully eligible in the previous school, the student shall be ineligible in the new school. A student who was not in good standing at the time of transfer shall be ineligible until the penalty from the previous school has been served. C. Each time a student transfers and the conditions of the transfer do not meet any of the provisions of Section 2 (above), the student will be ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one (1) calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the new school. For example, if a student while serving a one-year transfer suspension transfers to another school and none of the provisions of Section 2 (above) are met, an additional one-year suspension will be applied. The student will begin serving the additional one-year suspension immediately following the completion of the previous one-year suspension. Fine Arts: Transfer students do not have to serve a transfer suspension for participation in Fine Arts programs. FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS Foreign exchange students shall be limited to one calendar year of high school eligibility commencing with their first day of attendance. A foreign exchange student who is enrolled in and attending a Minnesota high school will be eligible to participate in varsity competition provided that the student meets all of the conditions listed below. 1. The student must be under the auspices of, and be placed with, a host family by an international student exchange program that has been approved for listing by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) and be recognized by the U.S. Department of State. A. The foreign exchange program must assign students to host families by a method that ensures that no student, student’s parents, school, or other interested party may influence the assignment for athletic or other purposes. B. The foreign exchange student may not be selected or placed on any basis related to their athletic interests or abilities. 2. A foreign exchange student is considered to be placed with a host family when written notice of placement is provided by the exchange organization to the student and the student’s parents, and to the host family. A. Neither the school the student attends nor any person associated with the host school shall have input into the selection of the student. B. No member of the school’s coaching staff, paid or voluntary, shall serve as the host family. 3. The foreign exchange student must possess a current J-1 visa issued by the U.S. Department of State. The foreign exchange student must comply with all League eligibility requirements. A completed Foreign Exchange Student Registration Form must be provided to the high school principal and approved by the League office before the student is eligible for varsity competition.

Contact: John Oelfke