Ineligibility and Probation in High School
Developing Policies Fair to Students, Teachers, and Coaches
May 1, 2009
Many schools follow policies of disciplinary probation and “ineligibility” procedures that are tied to student grades. The theory behind such policies is often sound, yet the execution can be a nightmare. Exceptions are always made, based on so-called “case-by-case” evaluations, opening the door to charges of discrimination and favoritism. Any eligibility policy must be tied to every aspect of student extra-curriculars, although many affect only athletes. Are these policies designed to be punitive or to promote motivation?
Disciplinary and Academic Probation
Both of these policies are far more straightforward than ineligibility policies and hence easier to facilitate. Disciplinary probation obviously relates to individual student deportment. This can be based on disciplinary referrals, demerits, or some other standardized system that is used to enforce school discipline and classroom management.
Additionally, disciplinary probation may result from school programs like substance abuse testing, whether alcohol or illegal drugs. Although everything that transpires in a school community should be thoroughly documented, probationary decisions must be meticulously recorded to avoid the possibility of parental litigation. This includes privacy and confidentiality considerations.
Academic probation is the easiest to enforce because, if schools have published criteria, there can be no question of error. Probation is usually tied to a specific GPA cutoff and can apply to honors-track programs or general continuance of the student at that particular school. Academic probation is usually more important in non-public schools that wish to shed continuously failing students.
Ineligibility Policies
Many schools adopt such policies in the hopes of motivating students to improve grades. Students failing one or more classes are barred from participation in sports and other school-related activities. In some cases, ineligibility is tied to one or more below average grades – “Ds.” Schools need to ask key questions when enacting such policies:
- Does ineligibility begin after grade posting?
- How long will the student be ineligible?
- What about activities like band or drama that of themselves grade students?
- Can ineligible students be spectators at athletic events?
- Who monitors the enforcement of the policy?
Ineligibility policies can create major problems for teachers. If the policy stipulates that students become eligible the moment they pass a certain class average (they move from an “F” to a “D” or a “D” to a “C”) teachers will be pressured by students, parents, and coaches to assign more busy work in order to get past the GPA hurdle.
If the policy specifies a particular day, such as when mid-term progress reports are due, the pressure will translate into accepting late or missing assignments in the hopes of boosting grades, even if this circumvents published syllabi, school grading policies, or teacher-specified preferences. This is all the more acute when the student in question happens to be a “star” athlete.
A Sane Approach to Ineligibility
The motivation of sports is often carried into the classroom and frequently students actually do better academically when playing a sport. Additionally, slow learners or students with learning differences need sports and other activities – like chorus, drama, and student clubs, to build confidence, leadership, and self-esteem.
While this implies a “case-by-case” approach, the real solution should be to scrap ineligibility policies altogether, unless they are tied to random drug testing or disciplinary considerations. Without a written policy, failing students can still be counseled off a team by bringing in parents, counselors, and coaches to assess the best individual plan in dealing with student non-performance in academic classes.
Elaborate and open-ended ineligibility policies only create unnecessary problems and pressures for teachers, use up administrator’s schedules when parents complain, and create animosity between coaches and teachers.
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