TITLE 19. EDUCATION
PART 2. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
CHAPTER 76. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
SUBCHAPTER
AA.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts an amendment to §76.1001, concerning extracurricular activities. The amendment is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 6, 2025 issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3341) and will not be republished. The adopted amendment increases the number of activities in which a student may participate from one activity to two activities per school week.
REASONED JUSTIFICATION: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.055(b)(41), requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules relating to extracurricular activities under TEC, §33.081, which limits the participation in and practice for extracurricular activities during the school day and the school week and establishes the parameters and exemptions of student participation in an extracurricular activity or a University Interscholastic League competition.
Section 76.1001(d) establishes limitations on participation in and practice for extracurricular activities during the school day and school week.
Currently, students are limited to participating in no more than one extracurricular activity per school week, excluding holidays. There are exceptions for tournaments or post-district contests, as well as contests postponed by weather or public disaster that may determine advancement to a post-district level of competition. TEA received a request to change the rule to allow students to participate in up to two activities per school week, and the request was approved. The adopted amendment allows students to participate in up to two activities per school week with the listed exceptions.
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND AGENCY RESPONSES: The public comment period on the proposal began June 6, 2025, and ended July 7, 2025. Following is a summary of public comments received and agency responses.
Comment: Two community members, an administrator, and a representative from higher education expressed support for the proposed amendment to allow schools to play two games per school week because it would provide more flexibility in scheduling and help the current officiating shortage.
Response: The agency agrees that allowing students to participate in up to two games per school week provides districts and sports officials with additional flexibility in scheduling extracurricular activities.
Comment: One community member stated the proposed amendment would greatly help Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) Soccer with the ability to supply full crews to all contests.
Response: The agency agrees that allowing students to participate in up to two games per school week provides school districts and TASO with additional flexibility in scheduling extracurricular activities and ensuring events are appropriately staffed.
Comment: One community member, an administrator, and a representative from higher education stated that the proposed amendment to allow students to play up to two games per school week provides flexibility that benefits students in addition to the school districts.
Response: The agency agrees that in addition to providing flexibility for school districts in scheduling extracurricular activities, allowing students to participate in up to two games per school week has benefits for students.
Comment: One school counselor stated that students already miss a great deal of school and core classroom instruction for extracurricular events, and the proposed amendment would allow students to potentially miss four or five days during the school week.
Response: The agency disagrees that the proposed amendment to increase the number of extracurricular activities in which a student can participate during the school week from one day to two days would allow a student to miss four or five days of classroom instruction during the school week. TEC, §25.092, requires students to be in attendance for a minimum of 90% of the days a class is offered in order to receive class credit or a final grade. A student participating in any number of extracurricular activities in a school week must still meet the minimum attendance requirement.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY. The amendment is adopted under Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.055(b)(41), which requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules relating to extracurricular activities under TEC, §33.081, which limits the participation in and practice for extracurricular activities during the school day and the school week and establishes the parameters and exemptions of student participation in an extracurricular activity or a University Interscholastic League competition as they relate to student grades.
CROSS REFERENCE TO STATUTE. The amendment implements Texas Education Code, §7.055(b)(41).
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on November 10, 2025.
TRD-202504075
Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez
Director, Rulemaking
Texas Education Agency
Effective date: November 30, 2025
Proposal publication date: June 6, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497