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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Ind. Gov't. - "Voucher students and the IHSAA"

From an editorial today in the South Bend Tribune:

The Indiana High School Athletic Association says it will follow its present rules in considering student transfer requests associated with the state's new school voucher program.

That ought to signal to the General Assembly an urgency for the House Education Committee to help the IHSAA develop new policies that are more responsive and fair to Indiana students and their families. * * *

Of 3,200 transfer applications last year, the IHSAA says it granted 97 percent of the requesting students full althletic eligibility.

Readers, however, remember years of controversy after the IHSAA in 2008 ruled against Jasmine Watson's request to play varsity basketball at Washington High School. And the IHSAA's 2009 ruling against Eric Woods' bid to play varsity football at Washington. * * *

These are difficult cases to judge. The IHSAA's ruling against Jasmine, in fact, was upheld just this year by the Indiana Supreme Court, reversing action in St. Joseph Circuit Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals.

State lawmakers passed the new voucher program to serve the best interest of students. They should now review the IHSAA's transfer and sports eligibility rules to ensure they are working as well as possible for students and their families.

Here is a lengthy list of ILB entries on the Jasmine Watson dispute. And here is an ILB entry from Oct. 23, 2009, on the Eric Woods decision.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 26, 2011 11:57 AM
Posted to Indiana Government