Amid mounting pressure from a Lafayette lawmaker, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association says it will consider a proposal at its convention next week to incrementally raise the required grade point average for high school athletes. The current GPA requirement stands at 1.5 — a D average. However, according to an article today in The Daily Advertiser, LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson, who attended a pre-convention meeting at the Chenier Center in Lafayette Wednesday, says a hike over three years will be considered.
According to the proposal that will be introduced at the convention, student athletes would be required to pass six class units each semester; the 1.5 requirement would remain in place for the 2010-2011 school year, and would rise to 1.75 and then 2.0 in the two subsequent school years. Currently, high school athletes are required to maintain a 1.5 GPA and to pass five class units per semester, which, if a student maintains only the minimum requirement, results in the student being four credits short of graduating despite being eligible to participate in sports for four years.
State Rep. Rickey Hardy, who attended Wednesday’s meeting in Lafayette, has tried in the last two consecutive legislative sessions to raise the GPA requirement to 2.0. Hardy’s legislation failed to make it out of committee, due in large part to opposition from the LHSAA and high school athletic directors, who have argued that raising the standard would increase the drop-out rate among marginal students for whom athletics is their primary reason for staying in school.
“I’m certainly satisfied with phasing it in,” Hardy said Thursday. “I introduced the bill in 2008 and had some resistance; some folks felt it would’ve been good to phase it in. But at that time I felt that the standard was so low that we should go ahead on and raise it to a 2.0. However, in 2009 I said that we could do it in increments — it would be acceptable.”
Hardy says no matter what the outcome is at the LHSAA convention next week, he will reintroduce the 2.0 GPA bill in the spring session, pointing out that neighboring states Texas and Mississippi have already raised their minimum GPA to 2.0. But, the Lafayette lawmaker says the LHSAA proposal is a positive development. “It is a victory, for not only me, but more importantly for the children.”
This latest development in the GPA saga comes less than a week after the parent of a Lafayette High basketball player filed suit in state district court against the Lafayette Parish School Board. Attorney Curtis Hollinger argues in the suit that the LPSB’s 1.5 GPA requirement is discriminatory and promotes academic underachievement.
... written by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz , January 21, 2010 - 05:19 pm
Mr. Pierce must be smoking the same thing as rickey. the LHSAA has been talkign about this for years. rickey has nothing to do with it. catch a clue. the independent's view of lafayette is confusion to me. they don't seem to know what is going on in the city or the state. since none of their people are ever spotted anywhere but in their office or next door at antler's i guess that's not a big surprise.
... written by yesidoknow , January 21, 2010 - 07:56 pm
You've got to be kidding. Rep. Hardy is the only one in the whole state that proposed raising the standard. Your assertion that the LHSAA has had this as a priority for years is a joke. The LHSAA has had the 1.5 GPA for over 30 years without batting an eye. Maybe you should smoke the same thing you accuse The Independent and Rep. Hardy of smoking. Then you might see the real world.
... written by nor t hsidian , January 21, 2010 - 08:40 pm
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ why has nothing been done for years since LHSSA has been balking about raise the GPA. Is it possibly because most of them finished with a 1.5 GPA. Louisiana the Home of (D's) Dumb Asses!!!!!!! It never changes. We love football and putting the 1.5er's in prison!! What say you boy!!
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 21, 2010 - 09:34 pm
Well Suh, Ricky must desire a higher quality of education than he received, for those little peeps he represents in his district. Ricky needs to get the peeps parents, involved in the learning process of their children. Someone must get this across to the parents, that the education of their children is their responsibility, and they must also share the burden, ( ""which, apparently is quite tiring"" )in the education of their children .
... written by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz , January 21, 2010 - 09:41 pm
a lot of noise from people who clearly don't know what they are talking about. must be rickey's friend JP on here. the LHSAA has been debating this for at least 10 years. ridiculous to say that rickey created this issue, he did not. what a joke.
... written by nor t hsidian , January 21, 2010 - 09:51 pm
ZZZZZZZZZZ: Debating 10yrs, give me a break!! Why so long? Is it because your buds are 1.5 gpa folks?? That is what's wrong with this state. All the cronies get the positions and only study, debate, study, debate, then pay for another study and on & on & on. Ricky is the only one with balls to stand up and speak out!! You can not cover for your buds on this.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 21, 2010 - 11:31 pm
AY, ZZZZZZZZZ, HOW DO YOU CATH A CLUE ? WHAT KIND OF CONTRAPTION YOU NEED TO CATCH A CLUE ? AND BY THE WAY WALTER PIERCE IS THE POSTER BOY FOR O'DOULES, AH NON ALCOHOLIC BEER, HE'S AH TEETOLER.............. OH , BY THE WAY YA'LL HEARD OF THE LAFAYETTE POLITICIAN GOT BUSTED WITH AH"""OWI"", HE HAD ONLY DRANK TWO BEERS. HE """WAS NOT ARRESTED AND LOCKED-UP ""BEEE CAUSE, HE IS A POLITICIAN. AY they say there was no room in the correctional center. Lock him up in da latrine, he can't run oveh any innocents, i cant believe ya'll missed that one, INDY.
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catch a clue. the independent's view of lafayette is confusion to me. they don't seem to know what is going on in the city or the state. since none of their people are ever spotted anywhere but in their office or next door at antler's i guess that's not a big surprise.