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Virtual charter students describe being barred from high school sports; lawmakers ask for solutions
Summary
Students from University View Academy told a legislative study committee they have been repeatedly denied eligibility by the LHSAA portal; legislators urged principals and the association to develop specific remedies before lawmakers consider statutory action.
Two University View Academy students and their mother told a legislative committee on Nov. 12 that school classification rules have repeatedly blocked their ability to play for the neighborhood high school, highlighting a gap between post-pandemic virtual programs and LHSAA eligibility rules.
Sadie Petrie, an 11th-grade student, told the committee, "I respectfully ask Mr. Bonine and the board to please reconsider the current classification ruling for our home study program and allow students like me... the chance to be a part of high school sports." She said online students miss the community and developmental benefits sports provide.
Her brother Vincent, a freshman who made the school baseball team in tryouts but was denied final eligibility by the LHSAA portal, told lawmakers the process has been "declined each time" when his family sought approval to play at Erath High School. Mother Amy Petrie described completing paperwork and speaking to LHSAA staff but receiving no change.
Lawmakers and LDOE officials discussed existing pathways: Ken Bradford said LHSAA rules currently allow certain BESE-approved home-study students to participate and permit some transfers tied to the state Gator scholarship program. However, Bradford said a broad "one-time transfer" that would let any student switch schools without restrictions failed at last January’s convention.
Several legislators urged principals and LHSAA membership to propose narrowly tailored, workable remedies that could be voted at the association’s January convention, rather than moving immediately to statute. Representative Chasson and others framed the situation as the kind that could be solved by a membership rule change or clearer classification language.
Committee members also noted the practical hardship for families: students who make teams and train through practices but are unable to compete during seasons, in some cases for multiple years, because of eligibility rulings. Several principals in the room said they sometimes have approved hardship appeals but asked for clearer, more consistent procedures.
The committee asked LHSAA counsel to share clarifying documentation and requested principals prepare written recommendations for the Dec. 8 follow-up meeting. The committee made no binding decision at the Nov. 12 hearing.
