Kentucky Cuts Back On High School Recruiting
Jun 19th 2007eHigh School
A quarrel between Kentucky’s public and private schools could affect many of the state’s high school athletes. Last week the Kentucky Board of Education voted in favor of a proposal that would force athletes who switch high schools to sit out a year. The proposal, called Proposal 2, will sill have to pass the approval of a state legislative committee before it can become an actual rule.
Proposal 2 is a response to public schools’ displeasure that private schools are dominating them in sports, and well as to the perception that private schools are illegally recruiting athletes under the pretense of recruiting students. The proposal hopes to cut down on the illegal recruiting of middle and high school athletes as well as prevent kids like O.J. Mayo from repeatedly switching high schools to further their athletic careers. If athletes want to be recruited or move to a better team, they will have to sit out a year.
Proposal 2 does have numerous exceptions. Athletes won’t have to sit out if they transfer because of a family move, transfer to a small school, or transfer to a school within 20 miles of their house. Still, private schools remain skeptical, saying they oppose the proposal because it restricts school choice. Proposal 2 is the first of its kind, and there’s no doubt that other states will be paying attention to the effect it has on Kentucky’s high school athletes.
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