READ THE FOLLOWING:
Attention: Coaches, Athletic Directors, and Friends of Athletics
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Important Information That Needs Your Immediate Attention
Thanks to the efforts of Craig Agnew, an assistant coach at Brenham High School, the State
Board of Education (S.B.O.E.) has initially approved a petition to allow Texas High School
students to apply up to FOUR (instead of the maximum two) Credits towards graduation by
taking athletic-related courses.
Coach Agnew said that the problem became clear to him last year as he was helping his
eighth-grade son determine what would be needed to complete the Distinguished Graduation
Plan in high school. Craig added that his son’s problem is further exacerbated by the nature of
the block scheduling system used in his district’s high school, which schedules two back-to-back
block schedule class periods per subject. This leaves little time for courses that do not provide
graduation credits.
Coach Agnew presented his petition at the March S.B.O.E. meeting. Against the
Commissioner of Education’s recommendation, the petition was initially approved 13-2. It is now
to be reviewed by the T.E.A. (Texas Education Agency) and will once again be brought before
the S.B.O.E. at their meeting on May 22nd and 23rd. This will be the third of five steps in the
process. I don’t believe this critical petition will go any further unless our coaches spread the
word regarding the unfair situation Athletics is in that NO OTHER elective experiences. That is
why we need to jump on board with this petition and encourage people to call, write, or email
their S.B.O.E. representatives and their legislators. (There is a list of S.B.O.E. Representatives
enclosed or you may visit http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html )
The following is a list of important points regarding the new 4x4 requirements as it pertains to
Athletics:
• Compared with the other electives, high school Athletics is the only elective that receives
just two credits for four years of participation. All other electives including Band, Dance,
and JROTC, receive four credits for four years.
• Athletes do not receive elective credit for their junior and senior years in Athletics.
• If a freshman has a goal to graduate on the Distinguished Plan and participates in
Athletics, he will have problems. He does not have enough room in his schedule to be in
Athletics for all four years of high school and take dual credit classes during his junior and
senior years. Why does this generate a problem? Not receiving credit for Athletics in his
junior and senior years will prohibit him from having enough credits to graduate. Athletics
is the only non-credit elective for four years of participation. Prior to the new 4x4, enough
room existed in an athlete’s schedule to participate in Athletics all four years and only
receive two credits. Now, the extra room is gone.
• With the new 4x4 requirements, which require 26 credits to graduate starting with the
graduating class of 2011, students who participate in Athletics but only receive two
credits will be placed in a different situation that none of the other students will face. For
example, four years of participation in Athletics equals two credits, but Band, JROTC, and
even Dance, four years equals four credits.
• Band can receive 1 - 4 credits in all three graduation programs, (two Physical Education
credits and two Fine Arts credits); JROTC can receive 1 - 4 credits in all three graduation
programs; Dance I-IV can receive up to two Physical Education credits and two Fine Arts
credits, for a total of four credits. These are all state credits not local credits.
• The two groups of athletes who will be most adversely affected if the current system is
not changed will be the Upper Level students who have to manipulate their schedules to
take dual-credit classes and the At-Risk students who sometimes have to retake classes
because of failing grades.
• The current system of only awarding two Physical Education credits for four years of
participation in Athletics is not fair and equitable, especially when compared with the
other electives. All electives are very important to the educational process, but the current
system is punitive to only one group (Athletics) in our school setting.
Interscholastic sports are an integral part of the educational process. Sound athletic
programs can provide valuable lessons for practical situations. The daily influential power of a
positive athletic program and coach can be life changing for many of our young people. Studentathletes
experience daily victories, discovering within themselves the ability to overcome
adversity, develop leadership skills, develop winning attitudes, be hard workers and be a part of
a team which requires sacrifice and service to others. These things are the direct result of a
quality athletic program and the value of coaching kids every day. . . helping them make strong
choices and develop strong habits.
Athletics can significantly impact the lives of the students who stay in the program for four
years. A quality athletic program has the power to combat everything from racism, to low selfesteem,
to the high drop-out rate.
In an age of rampant teen pregnancy, high drop-out rates, and extreme apathy, it should not
matter to us why students come to school and work to succeed academically, as long as they
are coming to school and working. Athletics is often the driving force that keeps many of our At-
Risk students in school.
All electives are very important to the educational process, but the current system is punitive
to only one group (Athletics) in our school setting. It is not right and needs to be changed.
Thank you for you help and attention to this matter!
D.W. Rutledge
Executive Director
Texas High School Coaches Association