Audit: More transparency needed on student athlete eligibility decisions
A legislative audit out Tuesday recommends more oversight and transparency in the Minnesota State High School League's decisions about student eligibility.
The league oversees sports and arts competitions for member schools. Under league rules, students who transfer schools typically can't compete in varsity sports for one year, although the league does make exceptions.
Students deemed ineligible for competition can appeal to the league. Audit manager Valerie Bombach says the league needs to do a better job explaining eligibility decisions to families.
"The league should improve its website content and access to transfer student eligibility information for both the public and schools," Bombach told lawmakers in the House Education Innovation Policy committee.
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The audit also recommends better oversight of eligibility decisions from the league's board of directors.
Representatives from the league laid out steps for implementing most of the recommendations before next school year.
"The purpose of evaluation is that we improve performance. That's what we want to do," league lobbyist Roger Aronson said.
Most high school activities administrators the auditor surveyed said they support league eligibility decisions and current requirements. Eighty-one percent of respondents said the appeal and hearing process is fair to students.
"The league has a solid set of bylaws and policies in place," board member Deb Pauley told the House committee.
Pauley said she spoke with athletic directors in her local school district prior to the hearing. "My ADs said that having the guidance and rules of the league takes politics out of their decisions and makes things fair."
Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, pushed for the audit last session. Dettmer was a coach at Forest Lake high school for 34 years and said he's had "good relationships" with the league but got complaints from families as a legislator.
"I have confidence in the league that they're going to be taking a look at this and take it very seriously, and that improvements are going to be made," Dettmer said.