Constitution of the Standards Competition
A Unified Academic, Collegiate, and Professional Standards League
Article I — Name, Purpose, and Mission
Section 1. Name
This organization shall be known as the Standards Competition (SC).
Section 2. Purpose
The Standards Competition exists to: • Establish a unified, merit-based competition system across all grade levels, colleges, and professional fields. • Promote mastery of academic subjects, technical skills, and career competencies. • Encourage discipline, integrity, teamwork, and intellectual excellence. • Provide a structured, rules-based competitive environment using standardized questions and performance tasks.
Section 3. Mission
To create a lifelong pathway of academic and professional mastery—from elementary school to advanced careers—through fair, challenging, and evolving Standards-based competition.
Article II — Divisions and Eligibility
Section 1. Divisions
A. Academic Divisions • Elementary Division (Grades K–5) • Junior High Division (Grades 6–8) • High School Division (Grades 9–12) B. Collegiate Divisions • Undergraduate Division • Graduate Division C. Career & Professional Divisions • Technical & Skilled Trades • Healthcare & Medical Sciences • Business, Finance & Entrepreneurship • Information Technology & Cybersecurity • Engineering & Applied Sciences • Law, Public Safety & Government • Education & Human Services • Arts, Media & Communications • Agriculture, Culinary & Hospitality • Transportation & Logistics • Military & Protective Services • Any recognized professional field
Section 2. Eligibility Requirements
Academic divisions: • Minimum GPA requirement (3.5 for school divisions) • Clean disciplinary record • Demonstrated maturity and ethical character • Two faculty recommendations • Registration with the appropriate school Professional divisions require: • Proof of employment, certification, or training in the field • Professional conduct and ethics compliance • Employer or supervisor endorsement
Article III — Subjects and Career Fields
Section 1. Academic Subjects
All subjects must be included: • Mathematics • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science) • English Language Arts • Social Studies & History • Foreign Languages • Computer Science • Engineering Fundamentals • Business & Economics • Health & Physical Education • Visual, Performing, and Digital Arts
Section 2. Career Fields
All major career clusters: • Healthcare • Information Technology • Engineering & Trades • Business & Finance • Law & Public Safety • Education • Agriculture • Culinary & Hospitality • Transportation • Media & Communications • Entrepreneurship • Military & Protective Services Each field will have its own Standards, tasks, and scoring rubrics.
Article IV — Governance
Section 1. The Standards Council
The governing body responsible for: • Approving Standards for each subject and field • Certifying officials and referees • Overseeing competition rules • Managing appeals and disciplinary actions
Section 2. Local Boards
Schools, colleges, and workplaces may form Local Standards Boards to: • Host competitions • Train teams • Manage local appeals • Maintain rule compliance
Article V — Competition Structure
Section 1. Game Format
• Four quarters • Fifteen minutes per quarter • Two halves (Q1–Q2 and Q3–Q4) • Increasing difficulty in the last quarter of each half
Section 2. Question Delivery
Questions appear through an automated system. When a question is answered, another one will appear immediately. Unanswered questions expire at the end of the quarter.
Section 3. Rounds
Regular Rounds: First 10 minutes of each quarter Optimal Rounds: Last 5 minutes of each quarter • Answers must be typed • Higher point values and penalties
Section 4. Sessions
Each team is allowed five sessions per quarter. Sessions last 30 seconds. Team may collaborate only during sessions. Competition clock stops during sessions.
Section 5. Timeouts
• Three timeouts per quarter • Cannot be called during an active question • Coach and non-center members may only communicate during timeouts
Article VI — Teams and Roles
Section 1. Team Composition
• Academic teams: 10 members • Collegiate teams: 8–12 members • Professional teams: 5–10 members • Exactly five competitors must be in the center at all times
Section 2–4. Roles
Team Captain: Signals readiness, coordinates team strategy, communicates with officials. Coaches: May call timeouts and sessions, must maintain professional conduct, may be ejected for repeated errors. Referees: Enforce all rules including errors, timeouts, substitutions, and ejections.
Article VII — Scoring and Penalties
Section 1. Scoring
• Correct answer (regular round): 3 points • Correct answer (optimal round): 5 points • Incorrect answer (regular round): –0.5 points • Incorrect answer (optimal round): –5 points
Section 2. Errors
First-degree: Minor procedural violations Second-degree: Illegal communication during active play Third-degree: Any intentionally violent or verbally abusive act Penalties include: • Point deductions • Loss of question • Opposing team gains answering rights • Ejection after five errors
Article VIII — Technology and Materials
Section 1–2. Systems
Human-Aided Gaming System: • Questions created via PowerPoint • Stored on flash drives • Answer keys printed on durable sheets • Rules included in a bound book Automated Computer System: • Controls question timing • Displays questions on multiple screens • Enforces expiration windows
Article IX — Integrity and Conduct
Section 1. Cheating
• Immediate removal from competition • All accumulated points removed • Permanent ban from the Standards Competition
Section 2. Professional Conduct
All competitors must demonstrate: • Integrity • Respect • Ethical behavior • Compliance with Standards
Article X — Awards and Advancement
Section 1. Recognition
Awards may include: • Medals • Certificates • Scholarships • Professional endorsements • Advancement to regional, state, national, or international levels
Section 2. Advancement
Teams advance based on: • Total score • Win-loss record • Strength of performance in optimal rounds
Article XI — Amendments
Amendment Process
Amendments require: • Two-thirds vote of the Standards Council • Public posting 30 days before implementation
