The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) is ignoring the law when it comes to a recent school choice ruling, according to State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur).
Governor Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) are seeking an injunction against the AHSAA. The action comes after the AHSAA issued a ruling requiring student-athletes who transfer to sit out for one year before competing in athletics solely because the student participates in the state's new Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act (CHOOSE Act).
An AHSAA spokesman has said their rule “promotes competitive equity and deters recruitment.”
Orr said during an interview with WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show” on Friday that the AHSAA is ignoring the law.
“This may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back because there’s been tension before with the athletic association and they’re just kind of running the show as they please and ignoring those of us involved with funding education and funding all of those positions and making the rules for our public schools. They may have really kicked the hornets’ nest on this. When you’ve got the Governor and you’ve got the Speaker filing a lawsuit against you, that’s not a good position to be in. We certainly haven’t heard the last of this. It’s very clear in the law that they’re not to change the law,” Orr said. “The difference is with the school choice the child has a voucher. The school is not awarding some scholarship to get some primo athlete. This is a situation where the student comes bringing a voucher, if you will or something similar, to the school to enroll there. Different situation. It was addressed in the law. The high school athletic association just chose to ignore it.”
He continued, “They’ve always felt like they were the fair-haired children and untouchable. Now, like I said, when you have the Governor filing a lawsuit against you, you’re in the bullseye so good luck with that.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
