4-H Eligibility/Excused Absences

4-H is recognized by the Texas Education Agency and each local school district as an extracurricular activity. All 4-H members participating in any 4-H competitive event must be passing all classes in order to compete, regardless of whether or not the competitive event is during school time. Prior to each competitive event, each school will be notified and the school will declare 4-H members who are not academically eligible as of the most recent grading reporting period according to the TEA/UIL Handbook. If 4-H members are not passing, they will be notified by the Extension Agent. Contact the Extension Office with any questions. 4-H members participating in an activity which is approved by the local school board, under the direction of the Extension Agent(s) will be considered excused. Students are responsible and MUST stay within the limits of the number of days allowed by their school. Schools will be notified (by letter) from the Extension Office as to what members will be participating, dates and times that they are to miss classes.

Wharton County 4-H youth, including youth in public, private, and/or home school, must adhere to the following guidelines regarding extracurricular activities and academic eligibility:

Members must notify the Wharton County 4-H Office for each competitive event/activity in which they plan to participate. The Wharton County 4-H Office will send a “Declaration of Eligibility Form” to the member’s school for eligibility and excused absence approval. If the school deems the student ineligible, they will not be able to participate in the event. All 4-H Activities and Competitive Events (this does include photography, Wharton County Youth Fair, participation in ANY 4-H event or activity that would require them to be absent from school require the student’s eligibility status to be approved by the student’s school district