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Wednesday, January 14, 1998
Survey: majority of private schools responding
against joining UIL
By PEGGY FIKAC / Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN (AP) -- A survey of private and parochial schools found
that most responding would rather not join the University Interscholastic
League, at least not under conditions set out by the organization.
The survey was sent to more than 180 private and parochial
schools last year by the UIL, which oversees public school athletic,
music and academic competitions. State Board of Education members,
who review UIL rules, will receive a report on the survey this
week.
Of 66 schools that answered, 33 said they wouldn't want to
join under the parameters outlined by the UIL; 29 said they would;
and four had no opinion. Fifteen said they would support separate
UIL championship playoffs for private schools.
UIL rules now allow member schools to play private schools
in non-conference competition, but do not allow the private schools
to compete in contests leading up to state championships.
Among probable conditions for membership outlined by the UIL
when it sent the survey to private secondary schools were:
-- Only private schools accredited by the Texas Private School
Accreditation Commission would be eligible.
-- Private schools would be assigned to districts on a non-honors
basis and wouldn't participate in playoffs with public schools.
-- Students in private schools would be ineligible for varsity
athletics the first year they attended the private school.
-- Enrollment for single-gender schools would be doubled for
classification purposes.
-- Private schools would agree to follow all UIL rules, state
law, and rules and regulations of the State Board of Education
regarding extracurricular activities.
Bonnie Northcutt, UIL policy director, said some large private
schools that belong to the Texas Christian Interscholastic League
have expressed interest in joining the UIL. Such schools may have
to travel long distances to play against another private school,
she said.
One school in the Christian league that expressed support for
joining UIL was San Antonio Providence High.
"We would prefer having full status in the UIL. It is
a long-needed merger. It would be beneficial for all students
to have academic as well as athletic exposure to each other,"
the school commented, according to the survey results.
Added El Paso Cathedral High School, "It would cut cost
on travel and scheduling would become easier."
Public school superintendents have opposed allowing private
schools to join, citing differences between their institutions
and private schools. Public schools must serve all types of students,
who must meet academic standards to participate in UIL competition.
There have been concerns expressed about how non-public school
students could be held to the same academic standards and about
the potential for recruitment of top athletes by private schools,
which don't have attendance zones.
Besides traditional private and parochial schools, home schools
are considered to be private schools under a court ruling, Ms.
Northcutt said.
Edd Burleson, director of the Texas Association of Private
and Parochial Schools, said many of the schools that belong to
his group wouldn't want to participate in UIL because they have
too few students to compete effectively. Of about 200 schools,
about 100 have 40 or fewer students, he said.
As for academic requirements, Burleson said the TCIL uses the
same rules for competition as the UIL. He said his association's
rules are similar, although they allow students to fail one course
and still be eligible.
"The majority of our schools require students to pass
all subjects" to compete, he said. "Most of our schools
were into no pass, no play even before the UIL adopted it."
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