Interscholastic Athletics
The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction recognize the value of athletic activities to the educational experience of students in North Carolina public schools. When effectively planned, organized, administered, supervised, and evaluated, athletic activities can better serve the interests and needs of young people than any other channel. For this reason, it is important that school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members identify appropriate educational objectives and plan athletic programs in keeping with the overall purposes of K-12 education.
Underlying every phase of a school’s athletic program should be a primary concern for the student-athlete as a person, student, and a member of society. At all times, emphasis should be placed upon increasing levels of maturity, both physical and emotional; fostering integrity, both personal and social; and promoting responsibility, both for oneself and for all involved in the athletic program. Any play between organized teams or individuals from different schools is defined as an “interscholastic athletic activity” and shall be subject to State Board of Education rules and policies governing such activities.
Policies and Regulations
The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt policies governing interscholastic athletic activities for students in middle, junior high, and high school. At the high school level, SBE policies are enforced by an “administering organization” such as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) or the Carolina Athletic Association for Schools of Choice (CAA4SC). In addition to SBE rules, both the NCHSAA and CAAS4C have adopted supplemental regulations for their respective member schools concerning the organization of conferences and divisions, gameplay, and penalties for violation of SBE and association rules. At the middle and junior high school level, SBE policies are enforced by the local board of education or charter school board of directors with administrative support from the Department of Public Instruction.
Policies adopted by the State Board of Education to govern interscholastic athletics are linked below.
- ATHL-001 (Interscholastic Athletics)
- ATHL-002 (Administration of Interscholastic Athletics)
- ATHL-005 (Student Participation Rules)
- ATHL-007 (Amateur Rules)
- ATHL-008 (Name, Image, and Likeness)
- ATHL-009 (Limitations on Recruiting and Undue Influence)
- ATHL-012 (Penalty Rules)
- ATHL-013 (Appeals)
- ATHL-015 (Student Health and Safety)
- ATHL-016 (Athletic Trainers)
- SHLT-001 (Return to Learn After Concussion)
High School Athletics Organizations
Additional about the two administering organizations responsible for high school athletics in North Carolina can be found on their respective websites.
Middle and Junior High School Athletics Manual
Each year the Department of Public Instruction publishes the Middle and Junior High School Athletics Manual, a comprehensive handbook for local boards of education and charter school boards that administer middle and junior high school athletics. Click here to access the 2025-2026 Middle and Junior High School Athletics Manual.
Additional Resources
Health and Safety Resources
The Department of Public Instruction has provided the following resources related to student health and safety during interscholastic athletic competition, consistent with the requirements of SBE Policy ATHL-015.
Appeals Board
The NCHSAA and CAAS4C are responsible for enforcing SBE policies on interscholastic athletics, including determinations of student eligibility and the imposition of penalties on players, coaches, and schools. Any person or school that is directly and adversely impacted by the final decision of an administering organization regarding the enforcement or application of an SBE policy may file an appeal with Superintendent of Public Instruction. With the exceptions of a parent acting on behalf of his or her child or a school acting on behalf of its student or employee, no one may file an appeal on behalf of another party.
A party seeking to file an appeal with the Superintendent must complete the form provided with the written final decision of the administering organization within five calendar days of the final written decision of the administering organization. Appeals filed after 5 days or before the administering organization has issued a final decision will not be considered. If an appeal is time sensitive due to the impact of the decision on an impending athletic event, the aggrieved party should file the appeal as soon as possible and note the date of the athletic event in the appeal.
The Appeals Board only reviews final decisions of administering organizations such as the NCHSAA or CAA4SC. The Appeals Board does not review decisions of an individual school if that decision is based on local policy. If the school has rendered a decision based on the rules or regulations of the administering organization, the school must first seek a waiver of the rule from the administering organization before any appeal may be filed with the Appeals Board.
Reporting Misconduct by an Administering Organization
Any public school, public school employee, or student who seeks to report allegations of intimidation of harassment by an administering organization may file a report with the Superintendent using the form below.