PRINTER'S NO. 1358
No. 67 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY STAPLETON, OCTOBER 1, 1997
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 1, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the National Association of State Boards of Education to
2 approve certain NCAA practices.
3 WHEREAS, The State Board of Education supports the concept
4 that appropriate secondary and graduation standards be used to
5 determine eligibility for participation in postsecondary
6 athletic activities; and
7 WHEREAS, The State Board of Education believes that these
8 standards are best set at the state and local level, rather than
9 by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decision
10 makers; and
11 WHEREAS, The State Board of Education believes the current
12 NCAA mechanism substantially interferes with efforts by local
13 districts and state governments to adopt strong educational
14 standards and design, fund and monitor educational reform
15 initiatives that will benefit the learning of all students; and
16 WHEREAS, The State Board of Education believes that errors
17 have been made by the NCAA in disapproving eligibility for
1 athletic scholarships for many students across the United States
2 who have met the rigorous standards established by their
3 respective states and local districts; and
4 WHEREAS, These errors made by the NCAA are due to a national
5 private organization whose primary role is not closely connected
6 to secondary academic standards assuming the role that states
7 and local districts should appropriately assume in setting
8 rigorous academic standards; and
9 WHEREAS, As a result of this flawed decision-making process
10 by the NCAA, numerous students across the United States who have
11 rightfully met all state laws and rules relating to academic and
12 athletic requirements have been precluded from receiving the
13 scholarships often necessary for them to attend college;
14 therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the National Association of
16 State Boards of Education to adopt a resolution opposing the
17 current policy and practices used by the NCAA in establishing
18 appropriate standards for postsecondary athletic scholarship
19 eligibility; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the National Association of
21 State Boards of Education to be an active participant in working
22 with NCAA and others to change their policy and practices to
23 more closely align with the educational reform initiatives
24 currently being implemented in the states; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the National Association of
26 State Boards of Education to adopt a position in opposition to
27 NCAA playing any role in assessing the value of coursework,
28 either on its own or in collaboration with other educational
29 organizations.
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