Panel rejects tougher GPA rules for athletes
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Despite cries that the action was “shameful,” the House Education Committee rejected a bill Thursday that would have gradually required public high school athletes and others to earn at least a 2.0 grade-point average to play.
The minimum GPA for athletes is 1.5 on a 4.0 grading scale.
“We must raise the bar for our athletes in the classroom and raise our expectations,” said Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, and sponsor of the bill.
The panel voted 10-7 to shelve House Bill 128.
The action will not affect an East Baton Rouge Parish rule approved in 2005.
That rule will require public middle- and high-school students to have at least a 2.0 GPA starting this fall to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities.
Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, vice chairman of the committee, made the motion to essentially kill Hardy’s bill, which would have applied statewide.
House Education Committee Chairman Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, also voted to shelve the legislation.
Other opponents of Hardy’s bill included the Louisiana School Boards Association and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, a committee member, noted that a 2.0 GPA equates to a “C” grade.
Leger conceded that a 1.5 GPA is below average.
“But not failing,” he added.
Tougher standards, Leger said, could trigger unintended consequences.
“You give them an additional reason not to go to school,” he said. “I don’t want to see that happen.”
LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson said about 90,000 high school students take part in sports governed by his group.
Henderson said Hardy’s bill could affect about 10,000 of those athletes.
Another committee member, Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, noted the GPA rule has not been changed since 1985.
“It’s shameful if we don’t raise our standards in this area,” Downs said.
“Why do we assume these athletes are incapable of meeting this standard?” he asked.
The bill would have applied to athletes and others who take part in extracurricular activities in grades 6-12.
The new rules originally would have taken effect for the 2008-09 school year.
It was changed to a three-year phase-in starting with the 2010-11 school year.
The GPA standard would have applied to the students’ most recent grading period.
Rep. Elton Aubert, D-Vacherie, criticized the bill and said it would rob struggling students of needed guidance that coaches provide.
“They get things from coaching and other players that they don’t get at home,” Aubert said.
Hardy disagreed.
“I am appalled that we find excuse after excuse after excuse for children,” he said.
“We can’t make any excuses anymore.”
Here is how the committee voted on the motion to shelve the bill:
Yes: Reps. Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, Elton Aubert, D-Vacherie, Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, James Armes, D-Leesville, Billy Chandler, D-Dry Prong, Herbert Dixon, D-Alexandria, John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe and Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa.
No: Reps. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, Bubba Chaney, D-Rayville, Clif Richardson, R-Central and Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge.
The minimum GPA for athletes is 1.5 on a 4.0 grading scale.
“We must raise the bar for our athletes in the classroom and raise our expectations,” said Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, and sponsor of the bill.
The panel voted 10-7 to shelve House Bill 128.
The action will not affect an East Baton Rouge Parish rule approved in 2005.
That rule will require public middle- and high-school students to have at least a 2.0 GPA starting this fall to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities.
Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, vice chairman of the committee, made the motion to essentially kill Hardy’s bill, which would have applied statewide.
House Education Committee Chairman Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, also voted to shelve the legislation.
Other opponents of Hardy’s bill included the Louisiana School Boards Association and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, a committee member, noted that a 2.0 GPA equates to a “C” grade.
Leger conceded that a 1.5 GPA is below average.
“But not failing,” he added.
Tougher standards, Leger said, could trigger unintended consequences.
“You give them an additional reason not to go to school,” he said. “I don’t want to see that happen.”
LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson said about 90,000 high school students take part in sports governed by his group.
Henderson said Hardy’s bill could affect about 10,000 of those athletes.
Another committee member, Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, noted the GPA rule has not been changed since 1985.
“It’s shameful if we don’t raise our standards in this area,” Downs said.
“Why do we assume these athletes are incapable of meeting this standard?” he asked.
The bill would have applied to athletes and others who take part in extracurricular activities in grades 6-12.
The new rules originally would have taken effect for the 2008-09 school year.
It was changed to a three-year phase-in starting with the 2010-11 school year.
The GPA standard would have applied to the students’ most recent grading period.
Rep. Elton Aubert, D-Vacherie, criticized the bill and said it would rob struggling students of needed guidance that coaches provide.
“They get things from coaching and other players that they don’t get at home,” Aubert said.
Hardy disagreed.
“I am appalled that we find excuse after excuse after excuse for children,” he said.
“We can’t make any excuses anymore.”
Here is how the committee voted on the motion to shelve the bill:
Yes: Reps. Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, Elton Aubert, D-Vacherie, Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, James Armes, D-Leesville, Billy Chandler, D-Dry Prong, Herbert Dixon, D-Alexandria, John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe and Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa.
No: Reps. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, Bubba Chaney, D-Rayville, Clif Richardson, R-Central and Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge.
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