Fulton County

Fulton superintendent says students who do remote learning can’t do extracurricular activities

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — If students in Fulton County choose a virtual option this fall, the district says they won’t be able to participate in most extracurricular activities.

Dr. Steven Craft, the district’s athletic director, outlined the plans in a briefing Tuesday.

“The reality of this is, if a family chooses the remote learning option, that student will not be eligible for any extracurricular activities,” he said. “That is a decision that family has to make.”

Craft said that includes fall sports, such as football, and participation in the marching band. He said the rules require a student be present “in person” for at least half of their classes to be able to participate.

The district, and others across the state, have strict guidelines for the safe return to sports if a child chooses to enroll in the face-to-face option.

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One mother who reached out to Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik says the blanket prohibition from participating in these activities isn’t fair.

“I think you shouldn’t across the board cancel the right to be an athlete just because they’re choosing to stay healthy and not expose their family,” said the mother, who asked Petchenik not to identify her.

The woman said she has underlying health conditions that could make her more vulnerable should she contract COVID-19.

“Now my 15-year-old daughter is being forced to choose between putting her mother at risk to possibly die or give up her academic and athletic path containing rigor,” the woman said.

Tuesday, Fulton County school officials announced students would have access to gifted and honors classes in the virtual model and that some on-line clubs would also be made available to students who choose the virtual path.

Parents have until July 22 to enroll in the individual remote plan.

As of Tuesday, district officials said close to 8500 students had signed up for it and they expect about 10,000, or 10 % of the district’s students, to ultimately sign up for remote learning.