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House Bill 5808 would require the IHSA to allow high school
student athletes to transfer with full eligibility if principals
from both the sending and receiving schools provide written
consent.
Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig
Anderson said he did not hear from state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr,
D-Naperville, before she filed the bill on August 25th.
“It would be quite a difference from our current policy and
residence and transfer bylaws that kind of dictate whether
transfer students are eligible,” Anderson told The Center
Square.
Currently, the IHSA makes decisions about transfer student
eligibility, but families can appeal rulings they find
unfavorable.
“When the Board makes their decision and if it again is not
favorable for the student, then potentially those could turn
into a family deciding to file a [temporary restraining order],”
Anderson said.
Anderson said Yang Rohr’s bill came as a bit of a surprise,
although this is the time of year when the ISHA receives a
significant number of requests for transfer eligibility rulings.
“We're aware that students aren't meeting the transfer bylaw
when they transfer, so we're getting some appeals to those
decisions,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the bill puts pressure on principals to make
decisions about transfers.
“Now they're the ones who are establishing the guidance of
transfer students and making those ultimate decisions, which we
believe should be based upon the rules that the membership has
agreed to,” Anderson said.
The Illinois General Assembly could consider HB 5808 during fall
veto session from Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
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