A. A public school student shall have at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, either cumulatively or for the grading period immediately preceding participation, to be eligible to participate in any interscholastic extracurricular activity. For purposes of this section, “grading period” is a period of time not less than six weeks. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to students receiving C or D level special education services.

B. A student shall not be absent from school for interscholastic extracurricular activities in excess of fifteen days per semester, and no class shall be missed in excess of fifteen times per semester for interscholastic extracurricular activities.

C. The secretary may issue a waiver relating to the number of absences for participation in any state or national competition that is not an interscholastic extracurricular activity. The secretary shall develop a procedure for petitioning cumulative provision eligibility cases, similar to other eligibility situations.

D. Student standards for participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities shall be applied beginning with a student’s academic record in ninth grade.