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ATHLETICS AND THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION PROPOSED 4 X 4 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATION PLAN - WHAT NEXT?
State Board of Education members at the meeting of the full board on Friday,
November 21 postponed until January a final vote on a plan
that would give high school athletics twice as much credit toward
graduation under the new 4 x 4 Distinguished Plan. The proposal
had been voted out of the full board committee on Wednesday ,
November 19 by a 10-5 vote.
Voting
In Favor:
Don McLerory - Chaiman
- College Station, District 9
Rene Nunez - El Paso, District 1
Rick Agosto - Secretary - San Antonio,
District 3
Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. - Houston, District 4
Ken Mercer - San Antonio, District 5
Barbara Cargill - The Woodlands, District 8
Cynthia Dunbar - Richmond, District 10
Patricia Hardy - Fort Worth, District 11
Gail Lowe - Lampasas, District 14
Bob Craig - Lubbock, District 15
Voting
Against:
Mary Helen Berlanga - Corpus Christi,
District 2
Terri Leo - Spring, District 6
David Bradley - Vice Chairman - Beaumont, District 7
Geraldine Miller - Dallas, District 12
Marvis B. Knight - Dallas, District 13
Although a solid majority of board members
still support the plan, the chairman of the Board, Don McLeroy, who was one of the 10 members supporting
the proposal, recommended to delay any
action on the proposal until January. "There is no rush to
do this," said Chairman Don McLeroy,
R-College Station. "I think it would be wise to
revisit this again when we consider other graduation requirements at
our January meeting." The five board members who voted
against the proposal on Wednesday rejoiced
in the delay, stating the
board was attempting to destroy what had been accomplished by HB
72 and SB 1. The opposition felt other areas
besides sports should be looked at
and alternative options should be studied before the
board approves changes. Board members approved the postponement
by a vote of 10-5.
Under the new 4 x 4
Distinguished Plan for graduation, with a
requirement of 26 credits to graduate, it is only fair
and equitable for athletics to receive four state credits for four
years participation in a sport. This will not dilute the
educational purpose of the 4 x 4 Distinguished Plan, but it will allow
parents the right and responsibility to decide what electives they feel
best suit their individual child's needs. The scholar
athlete, under the premise athletics could count as four credits under
the plan, could pursue the 4 x 4 Distinguished Plan without the burden
of the expense, and additional out of school time, to take
courses in the summer or at night during the fall or spring of the
school year to insure the 26 credits can be
covered. This is the only way the scholar athlete
would be able to take dual courses their junior and senior
years and be able to attend an athletic period all four years
of their high school career. We only ask these students be
afforded the same opportunity music, fine arts, and JROTC
receive under the present rules - FOUR YEARS STATE CREDIT FOR FOUR
YEARS PARTICIPATION.
The next
meeting of the State Board of Education is scheduled for January 22-23,
2009. Please let your voice be heard.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SBOE
REPRESENTATIVES
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html
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