Agriscience Fair Program Revisions

Incorporation of Policy and Procedure Text – FFA membership Actual handbook text – “Each participant must be a current bona fide dues paying FFA member in good standing with the local chapter, state FFA association and the National FFA Organization at the time of his/her selection and at the time of the event in which he/she participates.” Agriscience Fair Program Revisions

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions – cont. Incorporation of Policy and Procedure Text – cont. – FFA membership – cont. Actual handbook text – In the event a participant's name is not on the chapter's official roster for the years in which the dues were payable to the National FFA Organization, a past due membership processing fee of $25, in addition to the dues, must be paid prior to certification.

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Incorporation of Policy and Procedure Text –cont. – Students of nontraditional programs Eligible as long as (1) they are FFA members enrolled in at least one agricultural education course and (2) meet the aforementioned eligibility requirements.

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions – cont. Incorporation of Policy and Procedure Text –cont. – Students who transfer to a different FFA chapter Actual handbook text – “Once a student has qualified as a state representative in the Agriscience Fair, if he or she moves to a different chapter or a different state he or she may be allowed to compete in the national event with the school they qualified with during the qualifying year. “

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Eligibility/Participation – No repeat “competition” in division of category Actual handbook text – “A student may not participate more than once in the same category and division (i.e., Zoology Division I) of the agriscience fair. No student may participate in more than one category and division of the agriscience fair each year.“

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Eligibility/Participation – cont. – All required documents are due by the application deadline or the student/team will be ineligible for participation. Actual handbook text – “States must certify to the National FFA Organization by August 15 the participants/teams they will have represented in specific categories and divisions of the agriscience fair. Participants/teams will automatically be ineligible (disqualified) if any required form or waiver is postmarked after the national application deadline.

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Eligibility/Participation – cont. – Add/Delete policy Actual handbook text – “All add/deletes for Agriscience Fair individual participants and teams must be received at national FFA 10 working days prior to the national FFA convention. Any add/delete form received within 10 days of the national convention will be ineligible for consideration.”

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Eligibility/Participation – cont. – Add/Delete policy –cont. – Rationale Allows adequate time to ensure eligibility, and, if necessary, to replace participant(s) disqualified for failure to meet requirements. Aligns with other competitive events and minimizes potential participant conflicts at and after convention.

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Participation Lists – Only lists submitted via the national certification form will be accepted as participation lists. Actual handbook text – “Certification forms submitted to the national FFA will be the only list accepted.”

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. “New” required forms – Hazardous material – Non-human vertebrate – Human vertebrate – Checklist for adult sponsor/safety assessment Rationale – Programmatic alignment – Proactive safety precautions

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Scoring – Abstract penalty Actual handbook text – “Your full written report does not have to be submitted prior to the national competition.Your abstract, however, is due by the national application deadline. Failure to submit your abstract by that deadline will result in point deductions based on the number of days past the national deadline (August 15) the abstract is late.”

Agriscience Fair Program Revisions - cont. Scoring – cont. – Abstract penalty – cont. – Rationale Reduces late submissions and allows subcommittee adequate time to address project concerns.

Agriscience Student Program Revisions Eligibility/Participation – “New” required forms Hazardous material Non-human vertebrate Human vertebrate Checklist for adult sponsor/safety assessment – Rationale More closely aligned with other national-level programs Better ensures meeting of safety standards

Agriscience Student Program Revisions – cont. Scoring – National finals scorecard revised – Rationale Balances application score with presentation score

Agriscience Student Program Revisions - cont.

Agriscience Teacher Program Revisions Scoring – National finals scorecard revised – Rationale Balances application score with presentation score

Agriscience Teacher Program Revisions – cont.