DiamondJ2
07-17-2008, 10:51 PM
AUSTIN — The State Board of Education today will discuss increasing the credit for high school athletics from two to four, putting athletics on an equal footing with other extracurricular electives, supporters say.
The push follows new state requirements that increase the number of credits students need to graduate from 24 to 26, beginning with students graduating in 2011.
Supporters of the plan say the new graduation requirements reduce the time available for students to compete in sports.
Plus, they note, students who participate in four years of theater, band or choir, for example, earn four credits toward high school graduation.
Opponents of the plan, however, worry it could diminish academics. The board could vote on the measure later this year. Board Chairman Dr. Don McLeroy, R-Bryan, supports the idea, as do most of his colleagues on the 15-member board. “I think athletics is fantastic for the kids because we are more than just brains. We are a whole body. You have to deal with the entire person,” McLeroy said.
The issue is picking up attention because of new state requirements that students take four years each of science, math, English and social studies, along with 3 1/2 years of electives and other required classes, such as two years of foreign language and 1 1/2 years of physical education, for a total of 26 credits in the recommended or distinguished high school programs.
Currently, students get two years of credit for participating in sports — counted as 1 1/2 years of physical education and 1/2 year as an elective course. A credit equals one year of study in a particular subject.
Under the new proposed changes, the two additional years of athletics would count as part of the elective courses needed to graduate.
“Athletics is the only elective you get two years of credit for four years of participation,” said D.W. Rutledge, executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “Everything else — marching band, dance, ROTC — gets full credit for four years of participation. It’s been like that for years, and we’ve always felt it wasn’t right. But it wasn’t a problem when there were only 24 credits required. But now there’s no room left in the schedule with 26 credits required.”
Board member Terri Leo, R-Spring, opposes the idea if applied statewide.
“We’re supposed to add academic rigor to the day. Adding two more credits for athletics, then, is two credits less that a student will have to take for advanced chemistry,” she said. “They already don’t have that many electives.” She believes students should be earning credits for elective courses that are more academic in nature.
“If the board is going to go down this road, we need a broader discussion on this,” Leo said. And she prefers it be left up to local school boards, which is currently possible, she said, by applying for “innovative course” credits.
But some board members say public feedback is nearly universally favorable for increasing the number of credits for athletics. “I don’t have a real problem with that as long as you are meeting the core requirements,” said board member Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio.
High school athletes would be penalized if their participation doesn’t earn more credits with the graduation threshold now moving to 26 credits, Mercer said.
“If you can do the four-by-four basics and meet the graduation requirements (and still play sports), then more power to them,” Mercer said.
Keeping students active in sports also helps them stay in school, said Rutledge of the 19,000-member coaches association. Texas already faces a critical dropout problem affecting about 33 percent of high school students.
“If we don’t correct this, it could negatively impact one of the best at-risk programs that we have,” Rutledge said, adding that athletic competition helps develop character and leadership skills.
O’Connor High School football coach Danny Padron said the limits on elective courses puts athletes at a disadvantage.
“A lot of our kids, the freshman classes that are coming in, are taking summer classes to get a head start,” he said. “They want to be able to make their own choices down the road. ... Everyone else is using their electives as an elective, so why can’t we (in athletics)?”
Board member Patricia “Pat” Hardy, R-Fort Worth, agreed it’s an equity issue.
“Of the people I’ve heard from, 99.9 percent say, ‘yes,’ it should be counted as four years, so I don’t have a problem with that at all,” she said. “I can’t see the argument against it.”
Member Bob Craig, R-Lubbock, also views the issue in terms of equity.
“How do I say that swimming, tennis, football only get two years of credits for four years of participation when, in truth, I give ROTC and band four credits for four years of participation?” he said.
Hopefully, the State Board will do the right thing and vote to allow elective credits for all semesters participating in athletics. The athletes deserve it just as much as the ROTC, Band, Choir, Theater, etc. students.
The push follows new state requirements that increase the number of credits students need to graduate from 24 to 26, beginning with students graduating in 2011.
Supporters of the plan say the new graduation requirements reduce the time available for students to compete in sports.
Plus, they note, students who participate in four years of theater, band or choir, for example, earn four credits toward high school graduation.
Opponents of the plan, however, worry it could diminish academics. The board could vote on the measure later this year. Board Chairman Dr. Don McLeroy, R-Bryan, supports the idea, as do most of his colleagues on the 15-member board. “I think athletics is fantastic for the kids because we are more than just brains. We are a whole body. You have to deal with the entire person,” McLeroy said.
The issue is picking up attention because of new state requirements that students take four years each of science, math, English and social studies, along with 3 1/2 years of electives and other required classes, such as two years of foreign language and 1 1/2 years of physical education, for a total of 26 credits in the recommended or distinguished high school programs.
Currently, students get two years of credit for participating in sports — counted as 1 1/2 years of physical education and 1/2 year as an elective course. A credit equals one year of study in a particular subject.
Under the new proposed changes, the two additional years of athletics would count as part of the elective courses needed to graduate.
“Athletics is the only elective you get two years of credit for four years of participation,” said D.W. Rutledge, executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “Everything else — marching band, dance, ROTC — gets full credit for four years of participation. It’s been like that for years, and we’ve always felt it wasn’t right. But it wasn’t a problem when there were only 24 credits required. But now there’s no room left in the schedule with 26 credits required.”
Board member Terri Leo, R-Spring, opposes the idea if applied statewide.
“We’re supposed to add academic rigor to the day. Adding two more credits for athletics, then, is two credits less that a student will have to take for advanced chemistry,” she said. “They already don’t have that many electives.” She believes students should be earning credits for elective courses that are more academic in nature.
“If the board is going to go down this road, we need a broader discussion on this,” Leo said. And she prefers it be left up to local school boards, which is currently possible, she said, by applying for “innovative course” credits.
But some board members say public feedback is nearly universally favorable for increasing the number of credits for athletics. “I don’t have a real problem with that as long as you are meeting the core requirements,” said board member Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio.
High school athletes would be penalized if their participation doesn’t earn more credits with the graduation threshold now moving to 26 credits, Mercer said.
“If you can do the four-by-four basics and meet the graduation requirements (and still play sports), then more power to them,” Mercer said.
Keeping students active in sports also helps them stay in school, said Rutledge of the 19,000-member coaches association. Texas already faces a critical dropout problem affecting about 33 percent of high school students.
“If we don’t correct this, it could negatively impact one of the best at-risk programs that we have,” Rutledge said, adding that athletic competition helps develop character and leadership skills.
O’Connor High School football coach Danny Padron said the limits on elective courses puts athletes at a disadvantage.
“A lot of our kids, the freshman classes that are coming in, are taking summer classes to get a head start,” he said. “They want to be able to make their own choices down the road. ... Everyone else is using their electives as an elective, so why can’t we (in athletics)?”
Board member Patricia “Pat” Hardy, R-Fort Worth, agreed it’s an equity issue.
“Of the people I’ve heard from, 99.9 percent say, ‘yes,’ it should be counted as four years, so I don’t have a problem with that at all,” she said. “I can’t see the argument against it.”
Member Bob Craig, R-Lubbock, also views the issue in terms of equity.
“How do I say that swimming, tennis, football only get two years of credits for four years of participation when, in truth, I give ROTC and band four credits for four years of participation?” he said.
Hopefully, the State Board will do the right thing and vote to allow elective credits for all semesters participating in athletics. The athletes deserve it just as much as the ROTC, Band, Choir, Theater, etc. students.