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Board hears update on PIAA consent order allowing private religious students to compete locally
Summary
Legal counsel informed the Pleasant Valley board that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association entered a consent order permitting private religious-school students to participate in the athletic programs of the district in which they reside; the board discussed compliance and possible effects on local rosters.
Legal counsel told the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) entered a consent order allowing students who attend private religious schools to participate in athletics for the public school district where they live.
The board was briefed that the consent order follows earlier policy changes that previously allowed homeschooled students and charter school students to compete in district athletics. Counsel said the consent order likely would have been reached by a court and is now official. Counsel advised compliance and noted potential local impacts, such as situations where a private-school team exists locally: "Now if the school does have that program, they cannot participate in our program. And if we cut them from our program, we can cut if we cut other students from our program," the counsel said.
Board members discussed outreach steps. One board member said they would "reach out to them and let them know that this is ... I will take care of that," indicating district staff would contact affected families or programs to implement the new participation rules.
The report was informational; no formal vote was recorded on the item at the Sept. 24 meeting. Board members were told to comply with the consent order and to plan operational steps if private-school participation affects local team rosters.
The counsel framed the order as addressing an equity question: that students who attend private religious schools should not be barred from participating in athletics in their home districts on religious-grounded bases. The board did not discuss specific enrollment numbers or a timeline for implementation beyond the advice to comply promptly.
