Kentucky Athletic Association Moving To Oversee Middle School Sports

Kentucky.com

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/06/16/2681293/new-proposal-would-put-khsaa-in.html

Middle school athletics would be overseen for the first time by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association under a proposed regulation approved by the state board of education and now under review by lawmakers.

The lack of statewide oversight over middle school athletics in Kentucky has led to problems that include some schools playing more games during a season than is considered safe, and parents having students repeat a grade solely for athletic reasons, according to KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett.

However, Tackett said in an interview that the agency would deal with middle schools using a different model than it uses for high schools. Instead of governing middle schools, the KHSAA would provide staff and coordination for a 21-member regionally balanced committee composed mostly of educators who have expertise in middle school athletics.

The regulation, approved by the state board of education in April, sets some fundamental guidelines, but many specific rules would be decided by the middle school committee and local school districts.

The regulation was filed with the Legislative Research Commission on Friday. After a monthlong public comment period and a public hearing, which probably will be in July, the General Assembly’s Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee and the Interim Joint Committee on Education will give the regulation a final review, said Nancy Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education.

Although the regulation could take effect later this year, changes would not begin until the 2014-15 school year, with some provisions phased in, Tackett said. The committee overseeing middle schools won’t be named until the legislative review is complete.

Explaining the different tack that will be taken with middle schools, Tackett said, “We’re governing high school sports, we are overseeing this middle school project … I hope this leads to the development of a strong middle school program.”