Legislative Council Approves Changes to Constitution
By Mark Cousins, Policy Director and Interim Athletic Directo | Wednesday, April 13, 2011 2:24 PM
The Legislative Council approved the following changes to the Constitution and Contest Rules and/or UIL policies and procedures.
All items approved are effective for the 2011-2012 school year, unless otherwise noted. Items that are being submitted on a referendum ballot of UIL member school districts are so noted.
Academics
1. Adds a verification period for all journalism contests.
Section 1024, Section 1025, Section 1026 and Section 1027 (g) and (h) on pages 128, 129 and 130 of the UIL
Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1024: FEATURE WRITING CONTEST
(H) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. UNOFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SHALL BE POSTED AND VERIFIED AT ALL LEVELS OF COMPETITION. CONTESTANTS AND COACHES SHALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY CONTESTS PAPERS BEFORE OFFICIAL RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED. THIS TIME IS DESIGNED TO VERIFY IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT, NOT A TIME TO QUESTION THE DECISION OR RANKING THAT A STUDENT HAS RECEIVED. JUDGING DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND MAY NOT BE QUESTIONED DURING THE VERIFICATION PERIOD.
(I) OFFICIAL RESULTS. AFTER THE VERIFICATION PERIOD, RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL RESULTS. NO QUESTIONS MAY BE RAISED AFTER THIS POINT.
Section 1025: NEWS WRITING CONTEST
(G) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. UNOFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SHALL BE POSTED AND VERIFIED AT ALL LEVELS OF COMPETITION. CONTESTANTS AND COACHES SHALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY CONTESTS PAPERS BEFORE OFFICIAL RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED. THIS TIME IS DESIGNED TO VERIFY IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT, NOT A TIME TO QUESTION THE DECISION OR RANKING THAT A STUDENT HAS RECEIVED. JUDGING DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND MAY NOT BE QUESTIONED DURING THE VERIFICATION PERIOD.
(H) OFFICIAL RESULTS. AFTER THE VERIFICATION PERIOD, RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL RESULTS. NO QUESTIONS MAY BE RAISED AFTER THIS POINT.
Section 1026: EDITORIAL WRITING CONTEST
(G) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. UNOFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SHALL BE POSTED AND VERIFIED AT ALL LEVELS OF COMPETITION. CONTESTANTS AND COACHES SHALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY CONTESTS PAPERS BEFORE OFFICIAL RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED. THIS TIME IS DESIGNED TO VERIFY IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT, NOT A TIME TO QUESTION THE DECISION OR RANKING THAT A STUDENT HAS RECEIVED. JUDGING DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND MAY NOT BE QUESTIONED DURING THE VERIFICATION PERIOD.
(H) OFFICIAL RESULTS. AFTER THE VERIFICATION PERIOD, RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL RESULTS. NO QUESTIONS MAY BE RAISED AFTER THIS POINT.
Section 1027: HEADLINE WRITING CONTEST
(g) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. UNOFFICIAL INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SHALL BE POSTED AND VERIFIED AT ALL LEVELS OF COMPETITION. CONTESTANTS AND COACHES SHALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY CONTESTS PAPERS BEFORE OFFICIAL RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED. THIS TIME IS DESIGNED TO VERIFY IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT, NOT A TIME TO QUESTION THE DECISION OR RANKING THAT A STUDENT HAS RECEIVED. JUDGING DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND MAY NOT BE QUESTIONED DURING THE VERIFICATION PERIOD.
If the district chooses to have a verification period, then results of the headline contest will be unofficial until students and/or coaches have had a chance to examine their contest entries. Results will not be announced until after the verification period, if conducted, is completed and questions resolved. A verification period is neither mandated nor recommended by the UIL.
(h) OFFICIAL RESULTS. AFTER THE VERIFICATION PERIOD, RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL RESULTS. NO QUESTIONS MAY BE RAISED AFTER THIS POINT.
If during the verification period errors of count are not brought to the attention of the contest director, then the results shall be read as the Official Results. This verification is a time to check the accuracy of count only. All letters (upstyle and downstyle), symbols, punctuation marks and spaces shall be counted as one. When all questions have been resolved, the results shall be announced as Official Results. No questions shall be raised after this point.
2. Restricts the total number allowed and the number of school days missed for One-Act Play festivals and non UIL One-Act Play contests.
Section 1033 (b) (3) (C) on page 130 of the UIL C&CR will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1033: Theatre
(b) CONTEST ENTRY PROCEDURES
(3) Faculty Director.
(C) Directors shall not accept nor solicit aid in the preparation of the play, or in coaching the actors, or in designing props, makeup, costumes, scenery, lighting or in directing the contest play. A critic judge may be used at a contest or festival so long as three or more casts participate at the same site on the same day. At non-UIL contests or festivals, companies are restricted to no more than two sessions with the same clinician/critic judge per school year. Each session shall include a performance of the play and may not exceed two hours. Violations of this rule may result in the school and/or director being subject to the full range of penalties outlined in Sections 27 and 29.
(i) A CRITIC JUDGE MAY BE USED AT A CONTEST OR FESTIVAL SO LONG AS THREE OR MORE CASTS PARTICIPATE AT THE SAME SITE ON THE SAME DAY. EACH SESSION SHALL INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY AND SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HOURS.
(ii) COMPANIES ARE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF FOUR SESSIONS AT NON-UIL ONE-ACT PLAY CONTESTS OR FESTIVALS.
(iii) NO MORE THAN THREE SESSIONS AT NON-UIL ONE-ACT PLAY CONTESTS OR FESTIVALS ARE PERMITTED DURING SCHOOL DAYS.
(iv) COMPANIES ARE RESTRICTED TO NO MORE THAN TWO SESSIONS WITH THE SAME CLINICIAN PER SCHOOL YEAR.
3. Allows critiques when using panel judging in One-Act Play to clarify the selection process for judges.
Section 1033 (d) (3) on page 115 of the UIL C&CR will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1033: Theatre
(d) CONTEST PLANNING PROCEDURES AND JUDGING
(3) Judging.
(A) Selection of Judges. All one-act play contests shall be adjudicated only by judges selected from the current Accredited List of Critic Judges, unless the League approves AN exception for valid reasons. JUDGES FOR AREA, REGION AND STATE CONTESTS SHALL BE SELECTED FROM THOSE DESIGNATED AS AREA AND REGIONAL JUDGES IN THE CURRENT UIL ACCREDITED LIST OF CRITIC JUDGES. The list is on the UIL web site.
(B) JUDGING. JUDGING SHALL BE BY AN ODD NUMBER OF JUDGES OR BY A SINGLE CRITIC JUDGE. A CRITIQUE OF EACH PLAY SHALL BE PRESENTED ORALLY TO ALL ENTRIES AND INTERESTED AUDIENCE MEMBERS AFTER THE CONTEST MANAGER HAS ANNOUNCED RESULTS OF THE CONTEST.
(i) Critic Judging. It is recommended that one critic judge be used to adjudicate each one-act play contest. The judge shall prepare a critique on each play and present it orally to all interested entries and audience members, as advised by the contest manager. The critique shall not be presented until after the contest manager has announced results of the contest.
(ii) Panel Judging. If three or more judges are used, the judges shall sit apart during the contest. They shall arrive at a decision without conferring with one another or any other person. If panel judging is used, the League Ranking Plan for judging the One-Act Play Contest shall be the only one used by the judges and tabulated by the contest manager in determining the results of the contest. Individual judge’s ballots and the panel tabulation form shall be posted immediately following tabulation. Approximately 15 minutes shall be allowed for only directors and administrators to question tabulation errors. Members of the panel shall not be allowed to give an oral or written critique or otherwise evaluate the plays or contestants after the contest. Schools contacting members of a panel requesting an oral or written critique shall be in violation of Section 1034.
(C) Responsibility for Selection of Judges. The judge for the JUDGES FOR zone or district contest CONTESTS shall be selected by the district executive committee; judges for area contests shall be selected from those designated as area and regional judges in the current accredited list of critic judges by the contest managers of these contests; and judges for the regional and state contest shall be selected AND ASSIGNED by the Texas Educational Theatre Association Adjudicators Organization and approved by the State Theatre Director. A judge should not be selected that would result in any entry being evaluated by the same judge twice in the same year.
(D) Instruction to Judges. Before the contest begins, the contest manager will give to the judge or judges copies of the judging materials. The contest manager will fully explain them and other contest procedures insofar as they concern the judging, decisions and the critique. The contest shall not begin until the contest manager has performed this duty faithfully.
(E) (D) Decision of the Critic Judge or Judges. The decision of the critic judge or judges is final.
4. Allows speakers the option of using laptop computers, tablet computers and other electronic retrieval devices in the extemporaneous speaking contest preparation room. Devices would be used for the purpose of storing and retrieving their source materials.
Section 1004 (d) (4) and 1005 (d) (4) on pages 136 and 137 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules would be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1004: EXTEMPORANEOUS INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
(d) CONDUCTING THE CONTEST.
(4) Restrictions in Preparation Room. To assist in preparing the speech, the speaker may use magazines, newspapers, journals and other published source materials and copies made by a copier in compliance with copyright laws, as long as the material cannot be considered an outline of a speech. Any source material resembling the outline of a speech shall not to be used by the speaker in preparing the contest speech. Prepared notes, extemp speeches, debate evidence handbooks and briefs are not allowed. Published material from computer online data services may be used. The URL source of the published downloaded material should be included. Typed or hand-written materials may not be taken into the preparation room, except in the form of an index file which has been prepared by the student for the sole purpose of convenience in finding references to specific topics. Computers and other electronic retrieval devices shall not be taken into the preparation room. SPEAKERS MAY USE LAPTOP AND TABLET COMPUTERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC RETRIEVAL DEVICES IN THE PREPARATION ROOM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES PUBLISHED IN THE UIL INFORMATIVE AND PERSUASIVE SPEAKING HANDBOOK AND OTHER OFFICIAL UIL PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LEAGUE OFFICE, AND ON THE UIL WEB SITE. COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THESE RULES IN ADVANCE OF THE CONTEST.
Section 1005: EXTEMPORANEOUS PERSUASIVE SPEAKING
(d) CONDUCTING THE CONTEST.
(4) Restrictions in Preparation Room. To assist in preparing the speech, the speaker may use magazines, newspapers, journals and other published source materials, and copies made by a copier in compliance with copyright laws, as long as the material cannot be considered an outline of a speech. Any source material resembling the outline of a speech shall not be used by the speaker to prepare the contest speech. Prepared notes, extemp speeches, debate evidence handbooks and briefs are not allowed. Published material from computer online data services may be used. The URL source of the published downloaded material should be included. Typed or hand-written materials may not be taken into the preparation room, except in the form of an index file which has been prepared by the student for the sole purpose of convenience in finding references to specific topics. Computers and other electronic retrieval devices shall not be taken into the preparation room. SPEAKERS MAY USE LAPTOP AND TABLET COMPUTERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC RETRIEVAL DEVICES IN THE PREPARATION ROOM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES PUBLISHED IN THE UIL INFORMATIVE AND PERSUASIVE SPEAKING HANDBOOK AND OTHER OFFICIAL UIL PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LEAGUE OFFICE, AND ON THE UIL WEB SITE. COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THESE RULES IN ADVANCE OF THE CONTEST.
Music
1. Adds a brief band and orchestra director’s study period to the sight-reading contest sequence.
Section 1111 (e) and (f) on pages 155 and 156 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules would be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1111: SIGHTREADING ORGANIZATION CONTEST AND MUSIC READING EVALUATION
(e) PROCEDURES FOR ORCHESTRA SIGHTREADING COMPETITION.
(1) PRIOR TO THE INSTRUCTION PERIOD THE DIRECTOR WILL BE GIVEN A PERIOD OF THREE MINUTES TO STUDY THE SIGHT-READING MUSIC SCORE.
(f ) PROCEDURES FOR BAND MUSIC READING EVALUATION.
(1) PRIOR TO THE INSTRUCTION PERIOD THE DIRECTOR WILL BE GIVEN A PERIOD OF THREE MINUTES TO STUDY THE SIGHT-READING MUSIC SCORE.
2. Prohibits the use of recording devices in the sight-reading room.
Section 1111 (a) (7) on page 155 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be added as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1111: SIGHTREADING ORGANIZATION CONTEST AND MUSIC READING EVALUATION
(a) PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS.
(7) USE OF RECORDING DEVICES. THE USE OF RECORDING DEVICES DURING A GROUP’S SIGHT-READING PERFORMANCE IS PROHIBITED.
3. Stipulates that the vocal sight-reading music be closed during warm-up.
Section 1111 (g) (4) on page 157 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1111: SIGHTREADING ORGANIZATION CONTEST AND MUSIC READING EVALUATION
(g) PROCEDURES FOR CHORAL SIGHTREADING COMPETITION.
(4) First Reading. At the completion of the instruction period THE MUSIC WILL BE CLOSED and choral groups will be given the tonic chord, in broken chord style. ……….. THE MUSIC WILL THEN BE OPENED and sung without piano accompaniment and using the group’s preferred method of sight-reading.
4. Stipulates that the orchestra and band sight-reading music be turned face down during warm-up.
Section 1111 (g) (4) and (f) (3) on page 156 and 157 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1111: SIGHTREADING ORGANIZATION CONTEST AND MUSIC READING EVALUATION
e) PROCEDURES FOR ORCHESTRA SIGHT-READING COMPETITION:
(4) Warm-up and Tuning. Immediately after FOLLOWING the instruction period and prior to the sight-reading performance THE SIGHT-READING MUSIC WILL BE TURNED FACE DOWN. Each performing group may THEN play or sing a brief warm-up consisting of one of the following:
(f) PROCEDURES FOR BAND MUSIC READING COMPETITION:
(3) Warm-up and Tuning. Immediately after FOLLOWING the instruction period and prior to the performance THE SIGHT READING MUSIC WILL BE TURNED FACE DOWN. Each performing group may THEN play or sing a brief warm-up consisting of one of the following:
Athletics
1. Allows schools to have their first soccer scrimmage after the five-day holiday restriction in December.
Section 1207 (c) on page 190 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1270: SOCCER PLAN
(c) DATES FOR PRACTICE AND GAMES. There shall be no school soccer practices for a contestant or team before or after school from the first day of school until the first Monday after Thanksgiving, and after the date for certifying district representatives, except for teams that have not been eliminated in the playoffs. See Official Calendar for practice and playing dates, and certification deadlines. SCHOOLS SHALL NOT SCRIMMAGE UNTIL COMPLYING WITH THE Holiday restrictions in accordance with Section 1206 are applicable.
2. Allows all players to participate in the team playoff in golf.
Section 1260 (f) (2) and (g) (4) on page 189 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1260: GOLF PLAN
(f) TIES.
(2) Team Ties. Team ties shall be broken by the 5 [ 4 ] players with the best scores on the final 18 holes being involved in the playoff of additional hole or holes until the tie is broken.
(g) PLAYOFF STRUCTURE.
(4) Ties. In case of a tie, the FIVE [four] players with the best scores on the final 18 holes will be involved in the playoff.
3. Alters practice requirements for high school football.
Section 1250 (b) (5) (B) on page 185 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1250: FOOTBALL PLAN
(b) DATES AND OFF-SEASON REGULATIONS.
(5) Fall Practice, Beginning Dates.
(B) In Conferences A, 2A, 3A and Six-Man, practice shall begin no earlier than first Monday in August. In Conferences 4A and 5A, practice shall begin no earlier than the second Monday in August. Exception: If Conference 4A or 5A schools forego the 18 days of spring training, they may begin workout days the following August as delineated for Conferences 3A, 2A, A and Six-Man. No interschool scrimmages shall be allowed until after a period of at least SIX seven days of contact football. (Exception: A school may participate in a scrimmage after six (6) days of contact practice activities if either team participating in the scrimmage conducted spring training and plays a zero [0] week game.)
4. Allows three games to be substituted in place of tournament in high school baseball and softball.
Sections 1220 (b) (4) and 1280 (c) (4) on page 181 and 191 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1220: BASEBALL PLAN
(b) NUMBER OF GAMES, TOURNAMENTS AND SITES.
(4) Substituting Games for Tournaments. THREE Two games may be substituted in place of a tournament. If a team or student does not play in any invitational tournaments, a total of 23 26 games may be played.
Section 1280: GIRLS’ SOFTBALL PLAN
(c) NUMBER OF GAMES, TOURNAMENTS AND SITES.
(4) Substituting Games for Tournaments. THREE Two games may be substituted in place of a tournament. If a team or student does not play in any invitational tournaments, a total of 23 26 games may be played.\
5. Removes the degree of difficulty requirement for girls and boys in diving.
Sections 1290 (i) on page 194 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1290: SWIMMING PLAN
(i) DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY. In diving, there shall be a degree of difficulty requirement for girls and for boys on six optional dives. This rule applies to divers advancing from the regional to the state meet. The requirement for each year will appear in the Coaches Manual.
6. Removes the exception for schools to utilize officials not registered with UIL in wrestling and clarifies mileage payments for officials in the non-metro plan.
Section 1204 (b) (1) and (l) (1) (B) on pages 169 and 170 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1204: OFFICIALS
(b) REGISTRATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS FOR UIL CONTESTS. UIL member schools shall use officials registered with the UIL in all varsity contests. If non-UIL registered officials are to be used for any varsity contests, the involved schools must receive prior approval from the UIL Director of Athletics.
Exceptions:
(1) In individual sports (cross country, golf, swimming and diving, team tennis, tennis, track and field and wrestling) schools may select and use non-UIL registered referees for contests.
(l) MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT.
(1) Officials shall be paid travel reimbursement according to the metro or non-metro plan based on a crew.
(B) Non-metro -portal to portal (ROUND TRIP) officials shall be reimbursed one car AT THE STATE RATE 55 cents per mile, two cars AT 75% OF THE STATE RATE 41 cents per mile, or three cars AT 60% OF THE STATE RATE 33 cents per mile (A $10 riders fee will only be paid to officials exceeding three person crews). CONSULT THE UIL WEB SITE OR THE SPORT SPECIFIC COACHES MANUAL FOR MORE DETAILS.
7. Alters the current UIL Concussion Management Protocol based upon the recommendation of the UIL Medical Advisory Committee.
Section 1208 (z) and 1478 (m) on pages 179 and 247 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1208: ATHLETIC REGULATIONS
(z) CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL. At all UIL athletic activities (including practices and contests), schools will SHALL implement and follow the concussion management protocol as indicated by THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS. The Management Of Concussion In Sports Public Education Campaign, in regard to grades of concussion, management recommendations and return to play.
Section 1478: SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE ATHLETIC PLAN
(m) CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL. At all UIL athletic activities (including practices and contests), schools will SHALL implement and follow the concussion management protocol as indicated by THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS. The Management Of Concussion In Sports Public Education Campaign, in regard to grades of concussion, management recommendations and return to play.
Policy
1. Provides an exception to the UIL rule that prohibits schools from allowing students to enroll in more than one Physical Education and/or athletic class. This amendment would also strike language that is no longer applicable.
Section 1206 (e) on page 172 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows effective August 1, 2011, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Section 1206: SCHOOL PRACTICE AND GAME RESTRICTIONS
(e) ATHLETIC/PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES. Schools will not be required to grant local credit in physical education for student athletes who have completed two units of physical education credit toward state graduation requirements. Student athletes shall not be enrolled in more than one physical education and/or athletic class whether or not they are receiving credit. EXCEPTIONS (WITH LOCAL SCHOOL APPROVAL): PE CLASS: ADVENTURE/OUTDOOR EDUCATION; PE SUBSTITUTES: JROTC, CHEERLEADING, DRILL TEAM, MARCHING BAND
2. Establishes an initial set of contest rules to conduct a Chess Puzzle Solving pilot event in the A+ Academic program for grades 2-8.
The following will be adopted as the initial set of rules for the pilot of Chess Puzzle Solving in the A+ Academics program for grades 2-8. As a pilot event, these rules will NOT be included in the C&CR, and UIL staff will be authorized to adjust the rules as needed during the pilot period.
a) REPRESENTATION
(1) Contestants. Students in second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades who are eligible under sections 1400 and 1405 may enter this contest.
(2) Divisions. This contest will consist of three divisions, (second and third; fourth and fifth; and sixth through eighth). With the approval of the district executive committee, a district may have separate divisions for each grade.
(3) Individual Competition. For each division, each participant school may enter as many as three contestants in the district meet.
(4) Team Competition. If the district has elected to include team competition, the combined scores of the three contestants in each division from a school shall constitute the school’s team score. A team shall have three contestants compete to participate in a team competition.
b) NATURE OF CONTEST
(1) Summary. The study of chess teaches analytical thinking, pattern recognition and creativity, which in turn improve student performance in reading, writing, history, geography and math.
(2) Contest format. Students will take a 30-minute objective test containing approximately 20 checkmate puzzles. Answer formats may include fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice and/or true/false.
(3) Test. The League will make available one test for each division for fall/winter district meets, and one test for each division for spring district meets.
c) CONTEST ADMINISTRATION
(1) Personnel. All personnel in the contest may be coaches of participating students.
(A) Contest Director. The contest director will be in charge of running the contest and resolving any problems that arise. The director may appoint an assistant director.
(B) Timekeeper. The contest director will serve as official timekeeper and will give only a start and stop signal.
(C) Graders. At least three graders should be familiar with the instructions for grading and contest rules. The contest director may recruit more than three graders.
(2) Time. For all divisions, contestants will be given 30 minutes to answer all test questions.
(3) Materials.
(A) Provided by UIL. Copies of test, answer key and answer sheets.
(B) Provided by school or student. Pens or pencils.
(C) Other. No other materials or notes may be used in the contest.
d) CONDUCTING THE CONTEST.
(1) Numbering contestants. Distribute copy of the test to the contestants, instructing them not to open test until the start signal is given. As roll is called, instruct students to write their assigned number in the space provided on the answer sheets.
(2) Clear Room. Contestants and coaches should be informed of the time and place of the verification period. Coaches who are not assigned a specific duty in administering the contest should be dismissed from the contest room before contest begins.
(3) Testing. Inform contestants that answers must be recorded on the answer sheets. Answers must be written in algebraic chess notation. Students may write or mark on the puzzle sheets.
(4) Test Collection. When the stop signal has been given, ask all contestants to put their pens/pencils down. Collect all tests.
e) GRADING.
(1) Briefing Graders. Brief graders on the procedure to be used for grading and explain scoring process.
(2) Criteria. The test is graded objectively.
(3) Scoring. Each test should be independently scored twice, and papers contending to place should be scored a third time. Award three points for each correct answer. There shall be no deduction of points for incorrect or unanswered questions.
(4) Ties. No ties will be broken in either the individual or the team component. If there is tie for first place, there is no second place. If there is a tie for second place, there is no third place.
(5) Points. Points are awarded through sixth place. Team points are awarded through third place. See section 1408 (i). Tied contestants or teams split the total points equally for the two or more places in which the tie exists.
f) VERIFICATION PERIOD. The contest director should designate a time and place for a 15-minute verification period, at which time contestants and/or coaches are given the opportunity to view their test papers with official keys. Unofficial results should be posted. Questions should be directed to the contest director, whose decision will be final.
g) OFFICIAL RESULTS. After the verification period has ended and all test papers have been collected, the
contest director shall announce the official results. Official results, once announced, are final.
h) RETURNING MATERIALS. No materials from the fall/winter district contest may be returned to
contestants before January 31. No materials from the spring district contest may be returned to contestants
before Saturday prior to Memorial Day.
3. Changes to Reclassification and Realignment Policies.
UIL Reclassification and Realignment Policies would be amended as follows, effective for the 2012 – 2014 alignment, pending approval by the Commissioner of Education:
Conference and District Assignment Policies and Procedures
2. Students who are officially designated as having multiple disabilities may be excluded from the enrollment figures submitted for reclassification purposes.
6. Any school may request to be elevated one conference for extreme travel or in multiple-high school districts of eight or more schools, provided notification is submitted to the League office simultaneously with enrollment figures.
7. After determining the enrollment cut-off figures, Conference A schools will be further divided by enrollment figures for spring meet activities and basketball. Then map pins are used to represent all schools in a conference and both divisions of Conference A. Schools are placed into districts keeping the following criteria in mind:
c. Multiple-high school districts with more than one school in the same conference will have those schools assigned as follows.
(3) Multiple High School Districts with Schools in Different Conferences: A multiple high school district of eight or more schools may opt to have one or more of its schools elevated one conference if it wants its schools to be assigned to the same UIL district.
In addition, in an effort to increase transparency in the process, the staff will develop procedures for releasing to the public the selections made by each school regarding reclassification and realignment such as: whether they will play varsity football and basketball, whether they will play 6-man or 11-man football, whether they chose to ‘opt up’ etc. The staff will also develop a process by which the enrollment figures submitted for each school as well as the number of grades for each will be reviewed by the submitting school for verification purposes.