This is to inform you that the TSSAA Board of Control approved the request submitted by Johnson City Virtual Academy to become a TSSAA/TMSAA member school effective with the 2021-22 school year during their meeting on June 8-9, 2021.
The Board of Control took the following action concerning virtual schools: JCVA will allow their students to participate in all sports at their zoned public schools as assigned by the local Board of Education.
A student who attends virtual school must reside in the geographic area of the LEA of the member virtual school in order to be eligible.
Students who finished the school year taking virtual courses at their zoned public school will be eligible to continue participating at that school provided the member virtual school administration chooses that option for their students. Those students will be considered re-assigned by the local Board of Education, which makes them eligible, by rule. They must meet all other TSSAA Eligibility requirements and be enrolled in the virtual school on the first day of school.
If a student with an athletic record who did not finish the previous school year in virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic chooses to transfer to a new virtual school, that student will be ineligible to participate on the varsity level in that sport(s) for twelve consecutive months unless they meet the TSSAA transfer rule requirements. They could practice and participate on the junior varsity level until that time provided they meet the JV guidelines.
Students that transfer to the virtual school with no athletic record in the previous twelve months or students that transfer to the virtual school after completing the highest ending grade at their previous school will be eligible, by rule.
If a member of the virtual school chooses to allow their students to participate at their zoned schools, they must communicate with the administration of that school to ensure student eligibility. Eligibility information concerning those students must be submitted on the portal by the school that actually has the athletic program. That school administration should indicate that the student attends the virtual school and answer “yes” to the question that asks if the student was rezoned or reassigned by the local board of education, provided the student finished the 2020-21 school year taking virtual courses at their zoned public school.
The TSSAA staff will propose a virtual school bylaw to the Legislative Council at their next scheduled meeting in December which will mirror the action taken by the Board of Control.
Last Updated: February 7, 2022