3/23/06
Changes needed to correct unequal high school sports competition because of Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment among high schools, public and private, appears to be resulting in unequal high school sports competition.
Schools that rise to the top in their respective leagues and tournaments attract athletes who want to play for the best coaches with winning teams in the best facilities.
As a result those schools with winning traditions and parents and athletes willing to pay the price, often have the best teams.
Three out of four teams in the Minnesota State High School League State Hockey Tournament who advanced to the finals were from private schools. Cretin-Derham Hall defeated Grand Rapids High School for the 2A title and St. Thomas Academy edged Duluth Marshall another private school, for the lA title.
Private schools operate under the same transfer rules as public schools and while they win some high-profile games, overall they win the number of games compared to their percentage of membership in the Minnesota State High School League.
Those students and parents who can pay the price can perform on the best teams. This suggests that parents and students without means have to stay put in their districts but probably will not win the tournaments. Moreover, the transferee usually bumps the local athlete from some playing time.
Open Enrollment became law to enable students from anywhere to go to another school without living in that district. This Open Enrollment began with good intentions to allow parents for academic reasons to move their student to other high schools.
Parents with good athletes use Open Enrollment to get their kids to play on better teams, resulting in more recognition and more college scholarships.
Under the transfer rules, parents do not have to live in the school district their child chooses to attend in ninth grade. The ninth grader may move to another high school for their sophomore year without losing any eligibility. They may move to a different school in their junior year and lose half year of eligibility and could move to a different school in their senior year with half year of ineligibility in that sport.
It is not unusual for students from 10 to 20 miles away to go back and forth from their home district to another school district.
Coaches are not allowed to recruit athletes from other districts but are allowed to show an interest if students wish to enroll and play on their teams.
Observers believe the open enrollment of athletes is getting out of hand and tougher penalties are needed.
One idea would make the student ineligible in their preferred sport for one year, but allowing them to compete in other sports.
Another would require parents to move physically to the new school district, which would make parents stop and think about transferring.
Still, another would make the transferring student ineligible top play all sports for that year.
Chances are no changes will be made for this coming school year, but eventually the Minnesota State High School League will have to act to avoid the best athletes playing on the best teams from winning most of the tournament titles.
Now, parents with the most money and influence can use Open Enrollment to the detriment of the many athletes who just want to play for the fun of it and perhaps have a chance to go to a state tournament. -- Don Heinzman
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