Built for Schools. Aligned with Education. Trusted by Districts.

School districts approve participation in the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®) because it is intentionally designed to support public education, not compete with it.

NHSBBQA® operates as an education-first, governance-driven organization aligned with Career & Technical Education (CTE), student safety standards, and district authority.

1. Education Comes First

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because:

• Programming aligns with Career & Technical Education (CTE)

• Learning is project-based and applied

• Instruction is teacher-led and school-approved

• Competition is optional and secondary

Schools may fully participate without competing.

2. Districts Retain Full Control

NHSBBQA® does not replace school authority.

Districts retain control over:

• Student eligibility and participation

• Supervision and discipline

• Academic alignment and grading

• Civil rights and accommodations

• FERPA compliance

This respect for local control is fundamental to NHSBBQA®’s model.

3. Student Safety Is Non-Negotiable

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because student safety is foundational.

NHSBBQA® maintains:

• A Child Protection & Youth Safety Policy

• Volunteer screening standards

• Live-fire safety protocols

• Incident reporting procedures

School and district safety policies always take precedence.

4. Civil Rights & Accessibility Are Explicitly Addressed

Districts look for clarity around compliance.

NHSBBQA® publishes:

• Non-Discrimination & Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI, Title IX, ADA, Section 504)

• Accessibility and accommodation alignment

• Non-retaliation and reporting protections

This transparency reduces legal ambiguity.

5. Student Data Is Respected

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because it is FERPA-aligned.

NHSBBQA®:

• Does not own student education records

• Collects only limited program-related information

• Does not sell or commercialize student data

• Requires consent for media use

Schools remain the data authority.

6. Risk Is Managed — Not Ignored

Hands-on learning requires thoughtful risk management.

NHSBBQA® provides:

• Published Risk Management & Insurance Disclosure

• Clear delineation of responsibilities

• School-centered supervision model

• Event-level safety planning

This reduces uncertainty for district risk managers.

7. Governance Is Clear and Documented

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because governance is visible and structured.

NHSBBQA® operates with:

• A national governing body

• One licensed State Association per state

• Chartered schools and programs

• Codes of conduct and enforcement standards

• Whistleblower and ethics policies

There is no ambiguity about authority.

8. Participation Is Flexible

Districts value flexibility.

Schools may:

• Integrate NHSBBQA® into existing CTE courses

• Use programming for enrichment or clubs

• Participate locally without travel

• Scale participation at their own pace

No school is required to “buy into” a competitive ladder.

9. NHSBBQA® Complements Existing Programs

NHSBBQA® does not replace:

• CTSOs

• Athletic programs

• Culinary curricula

Instead, it enhances applied learning and workforce readiness.

10. Transparency Builds Trust

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because expectations are clear.

• Governance documents are public

• Policies are written in plain language

• Authorization is documented

• Verification tools are available

Nothing is hidden.

In Short

Districts approve NHSBBQA® because it is:

✔ Education-first
✔ Teacher-led
✔ Safety-focused
✔ Civil-rights aligned
✔ FERPA-aware
✔ Governance-driven
✔ Competition-optional
✔ Respectful of local control

Next Steps for Districts

• Review the Governance & Legal Hub

• Download the Superintendent Governance Overview

• Contact NHSBBQA® with questions

NHSBBQA® welcomes collaboration and transparency.

Contact & Legal Notices

For governance, trademark, or legal inquiries:

Email: Principal@HSBBQ.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 171, Smithville, Texas 7897

This page serves as the official contact point for all legal and policy-related matters.