Schooled in Sports
Education Week contributing writer Bryan Toporek brought you K-12 sports coverage that reached far beyond box scores. He wrote about education for Education Week and Education Week Teacher, high school sports for the Falls Church News-Press in Virginia, and was a Quality Editor for Bleacher Report. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: sports.
Law & Courts
Former N.J. Football Players Placed on Probation Following Hazing Scandal
Six former football players from Sayreville War Memorial (N.J.) High School were placed on probation and ordered to each serve 50 hours of community service following a horrific hazing scandal last fall.
Student Well-Being & Movement
'Concussion' Director Weighs In on Whether Youths Should Play Football
The film's writer and director, Peter Landesman, spoke with The MMQB's Peter King about whether he believes children should be allowed to play football.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Tracking Students' BMI May Have No Effect on Student Health, Suggests Study
Notifying parents of a student's body mass index may not be an effective way to address childhood obesity, a new study found.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Texas Coach Holds Domestic Violence Seminar for High School Football Team
The roughly 60 members of Skyline High School's varsity football team were required to attend a two-hour workshop on domestic violence earlier this month.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Pittsburgh Steeler Sparks Debate About Participation Trophies for Youth-Athletes
On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison sparked a ferocious debate about the merits of handing out participation trophies to youth-athletes.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Little League Softball World Series Embroiled in Game-Throwing Scandal
Move over, Chicago Black Sox. You now have game-throwing company in the form of a Little League softball team from Snohomish, Washington.
Student Well-Being & Movement
High School Sports Participation Eclipses 7.8 Million for First Time
Participation in high school sports reached a new all-time high in the 2014-15 school year, eclipsing the 7.8-million threshold for the first time ever.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Groups Allege California Is Falling Short in Phys. Ed. Opportunities for Minorities
Six health and civil rights groups allege California is failing to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by not providing equal access to physical education opportunities to minority students.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Michigan H.S. Athletic Association Debuts Pilot Concussion-Testing Program
Student-athletes at 70 Michigan high schools will be subject this fall to a pilot initiative that aims to help diagnose concussions via the use of two sideline-testing programs.
Law & Courts
NLRB Rejects Northwestern Football Players' Attempt to Unionize
The National Labor Relations Board unanimously declined jurisdiction Monday in the case involving Northwestern University football players attempting to unionize.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Early Exposure to Tackle Football May Increase Risk of Brain Trauma Later
Former National Football League players who began to play tackle football before the age of 12 appeared to have an increased risk of later-life brain trauma.
Budget & Finance
Va. District Sparks Outcry Over Budget Proposal That Cuts H.S. Sports
Facing a projected budget shortfall of $100-plus million for the 2016-17 school year, the Fairfax County (Va.) public schools are weighing whether to eliminate some or all high school sports as a way to help balance the budget.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Researchers Call for NCAA to Limit Full-Contact Football Practices
Collegiate football players are being placed at unnecessary risk because the National Collegiate Athletic Association has yet to establish limits on full-contact practices, suggests a new study.
Student Well-Being & Movement
High Schools Decide to Drop Confederate-Themed 'Dixie' Fight Song
Last week, school districts in Texas and Arkansas decided to rid themselves of their "Dixie" fight songs as controversy continues to bubble over schools' use of Confederate-themed imagery.