Public high school student-athletes in Iowa won’t be permitted to play sports if they fail a class under a proposed rule change.
Under the current standards, student-athletes must pass four of their five classes in order to play.
The Iowa state board of education in a 5-3 vote on Sept. 8 agreed to write new rules that would raise the academic-eligibility requirements for student-athletes. In addition, student-athletes would have to be making progress toward completing their graduation requirements.
The rule change, which still must be approved by a House legislative committee, is expected to receive final approval by the state board in the spring. The new guidelines would go into effect next school year. Students who participate in extracurricular activities, such as band, often voluntarily abide by student-athlete academic guidelines as well.
Bud Legg, the information director for the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said roughly 65 percent of the state’s 350 high schools have tougher academic standards than the proposed rule. He said he’s not aware of any opposition to the proposed academic standard.
