State BOE revising sports eligibility rule to comply with bill passed in 2023 session – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Board of Education has put an existing policy connected to who is eligible to play school sports out for a 30-day comment period following the legislature’s approval of a bill last year.

The board agreed Wednesday on the 30-day comment period after changing the existing rule to comply with HB 2820 that was approved during the 2023 legislative session.

The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice on March 11, 2023, permits students enrolled in private schools, the Hope Scholarship Program, microschools and learning pods access to participate in extracurricular activities sponsored by public schools.

Revision of the policy and the decision to put those revisions out for a 30-day comment period was part of the state Board of Education’s consent agenda Wednesday.

Board member Debra Sullivan said she wanted to remind non-public school students planning to take advantage of the law that they are required to comply with other rules when it comes to testing.

“I just want people to understand that home school, learning pod and microschool students must take nationally norm standardized tests in order to participate in SSAC activities,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he didn’t want people to be caught off-guard.

“Because right now under certain other rules out there these students are not taking nationally norm tests,” Sullivan said.

The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (SSAC) has added the new language to its rules, Sullivan said.

“If you want to play at SSAC sport you must take a nationally standardized test,” Sullivan said.

Approval of the revised policy will likely come at the state Board of Education’s June meeting.