While Congress is debating changing eligibility rules for college athletes, there’s a bill in Springfield that aims to make it easier for high school players to transfer schools and keep playing.
State Representative Janet Yang Rohr says her legislation is quite different from the bill in Washington.
The Naperville Democrat told WBBM high school athletes “should really have more freedom to be able to change their educational environment without having their athletic careers negatively impacted.”
She introduced the bill in August after hearing from families about “unfair decision” by the Illinois High School Association that their students had to sit out varsity sports for a year.
Yang Rohr pointed to one family which transferred their student from a private religious school to one that was more accepting.
Her bill would allow them to play if the principals at both the outgoing and incoming schools agree there was no recruiting involved and the move does not happen after the athletic season begins.
WBBM has reached out to the IHSA for a response.
The organization has said recently the bill puts pressure on principals to decide on transfers.
Yang Rohr found that answer “bizarre”, saying several principals she’s talked to support her proposal and most have already signed off on students’ transfer forms submitted to IHSA.
The association has pointed out dissatisfied families can appeal decisions made by staff and the executive director.
IHSA’s three-member appeal board meets monthly and if a family loses there, they could always take the issue to court.
Representative Yang Rohr says that creates an unequal situation where only wealthy families are able to get decisions overturned.
