HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Athletes have always had to keep good academic standing to hit the fields, but a proposal before the Henrico County School Board wants to attach specific GPA requirements to that.
Currently, academic eligibility under the Virginia High School League (V.H.S.L) only requires student-athletes to pass a certain number of subjects each semester to remain eligible to play sports according to the organizations handbook, but Henrico's proposal would slowly phase in GPA requirements.
Starting this year, athletes would be required to maintain a 1.6 GPA to remain eligible. The 2013-2014 year would serve as a pilot year to allow schools to adjust for things like study halls and sanctions against student-athletes who do not meet the requirement.
By 2015, the minimum GPA would increase to 1.8, and by 2016, a 2.0 GPA would be required.
The plan is based around getting help to student-athletes who might need it in the classroom.
Students struggling academically would in theory get additional support, and the Henrico County School Board hopes the measure will make academic and athletic success parallel.
This proposal might help athletes wanting to go to college as well.
The NCAA currently uses a sliding scale that takes into account a student's GPA and their score on either the ACT or SAT to determine if a student is eligible to play in college. For example, a high-school athlete with a 2.5 GPA would need to score a 1,000 on their SAT.
School Board members will discuss the proposal at their work session Thursday, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at New Bridge Auditorium at 5919 Nine Mile Road in Henrico.
To view the presentation that will be given to the board, follow this link: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/henrico/Board.nsf/files/937LWA588354/$file/GPAathleticsBoardPresent.pdf
