CWEA Announces New Policy Governing Scholastic Member Participation in Independent Groups
Published August 21 2018

At the annual Spring Membership Meeting in June, a proposal was put forth for consideration to change the rules governing Scholastic Member Participation in Independent Groups. In the past, CWEA discouraged independent color guard, percussion & winds groups from utilizing high school students who were previously enrolled in an active high school program who had not yet graduated.

At the Spring Meeting, the membership representatives present voted in favor of a proposal that would change how the circuit would approach these situations. The proposal was then put on the agenda for the Board of Directors consideration in July at the annual Board Retreat. Upon further discussion, the Board of Directors ratified an amended proposal that clearly defined the process and procedures for how these situations would be governed moving forward.

The new policy is as follows:

All scholastic groups who plan to field a group in the winter are required to submit a letter of intent to CWEA by September 15.

In order for a student actively participating with a CWEA member high school as of August 1 who has filed a letter of intent to CWEA by September 15, to participate in an independent group, they must file a letter of release with CWEA. The letter of release must be signed by the student, a parent or legal guardian, the independent group director, scholastic group director, band director and the school Principal. If the scholastic group has not filed a letter of intent with the circuit by September 15, then no release letter is required.

If a letter of release for a student has not been filed with CWEA, and the student chooses to participate in an independent group, then that student will not be permitted to perform with the independent group at a CWEA event.

If a student has previously participated in an independent group, and then their school decides to field a group in the winter, then that student could continue to participate in the independent group without a letter of release.