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Reclassify with a Gap Year 

 

Our Gap Year   program is designed to give students the very best preparation for high school and is open to all students, athletes or otherwise. While most students take a Gap Year following 8th grade, your student may repeat any grade with Talega Prep in order to prepare for the challenges ahead.  Be sure to check your state athletic association's eligibility rules, especially those relating to age restrictions and when the eligibility clock starts ticking.

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If you feel that your child would benefit from an extra year of growth before entering high school, our Gap Year may be right for you.

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 The reclass process is as simple as 1, 2, 3:

  1. Enroll in Talega Prep's Athletes 1st Academy

  2. Follow your independent study curriculum for the year

  3. Register to attend the high school of your choice the following year

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We take care of the rest.

 

We will:

  1. Notify your previous school that you have enrolled in a private school for the year

   2. Request your student records 

   3. Guide your completion of state-specific required forms for independent  study  

   4. Maintain your student file

   5. Provide progress reports, report cards, transcripts, and recommendation letters

   6. Manage your transfer into the high school of your choice

   7. Answer any questions and offer full support throughout your Gap Year

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  Gap Year students may

•   build athletic training into their school day,

•   explore interests and learning topics of importance to them,

•   advance their knowledge and skills, or fill holes in their prior learning,

•  build a creative Course of Study,

•   weave travel with family into social studies,

•   integrate Language Arts with social studies, science, and other content,

•   or follow a simple ready-made curriculum either in print or online.

 

If your student intends to re-enroll in a public high school after completing the Gap Year, check with your Athletic Director, coach, teammates, etc to see that your high school of choice supports your reclassification.  If your student will attend a private high school, this should not be an issue for you.

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Parents must carefully read and refer to their state's interscholastic athletic federation's Constitution and By-Laws before making this big decision.  Make sure that your athlete's age will not affect the reclass or eligibility for high school athletic participation.

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Rules to Watch For 

Most state interscholastic athletic federations, BUT NOT ALL, start the eligibility clock when a student enrolls in high school and then restrict participation in high school sports to a maximum of 8 continuous semesters. Typically, registering for high school classes during 8th grade does not constitute enrollment. Rather, "enrollment" is considered to have occurred if your student has attended a high school class (even for one day), engaged in summer athletic training/practice with the high school team, or participated as a high school student in other high school student-only activities.

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Rules in states vary. Be sure to read the By-Laws for your state's athletic association carefully and consult your high school athletic director if you have questions.

 

Gap Year students may not work out with the high school team during the summer between the first grade 8 year and our Gap year. This could trigger the clock and the student could become ineligible for competition in 12th grade. 

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Gap Year students may not take high school courses to receive high school credit. If your student is ready for Algebra or other advanced courses, they should be taken as an 8th-grade student through a curriculum provider, rather than a high school program.​

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Gap-year students should avoid contact with high school coaches at all times. While this may not trigger the clock, it could create an undue influence issue later and lead to disqualification.

 

For these reasons, we strongly encourage families to steer far from the high school once the first grade 8 year has been completed. Do NOT enroll in or attend any high school classes or training camps. If you have already registered for high school, notify the school that your student will be attending a private school and ask them to remove your child from their roster.

 

Read your state's athletic federation rules carefully and contact the appropriate state office for guidance. The Athletic Director of your future high school may also provide guidance. Talega Prep is not affiliated with any state interscholastic athletic agencies and cannot offer legal advice. However, we can assure you that in the ten+ years that we have been offering the Gap Year, we have had no issues with our students' participation in high school interscholastic sports. 

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Personal Consultations, curriculum planning, and guidance are available at an additional cost.

 

For more information about the 8th Grade Gap Year, see our blog here. To arrange a personal consultation, contact us here.