The Highland Park ISD board of trustees approved revisions to the district’s no pass no play policy on June 17, but not ones that would have changed the outcome of its recent soccer state title forfeit.
Under the new rule, students participating in extracurriculars must maintain a 70 average in all courses except for those that are designated as Category I or Category II, which generally include honors, advanced placement, and post-AP classes.
To remain eligible, students must maintain a grade of 60 in Category I courses, and a grade of 65 in Category II courses.
The new rule is designed to ensure the district treats courses consistently for GPA and eligibility purposes, board of trustees president Maryjane Bonfield explained during a June 3 work session. Prior to the change, eligibility exemptions were only available for certain Category I courses for which a level-down was unavailable.
This spring, Highland Park forfeited its boys state soccer championship when district officials discovered that their team had used an academically ineligible player in the game, and self-reported the violation to the UIL.
That student had a grade of below 70 in precalculus, which is not a Category I or Category II course, and would not have been eligible for an exemption under the revisions.
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The student’s mother has appealed the decision to strip Highland Park of its title to the UIL’s State Executive Committee. The Committee has not yet issued a decision on the appeal.
