The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
Athletic prowess might no longer be enough to make a middle school sports team in Chesapeake – students also may be required to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average.
The School Board is considering making middle school student athletes follow the same rules as high school students, who have to maintain a “C” average and attend study hall. About 2,000 students are involved in Chesapeake’s middle school athletic and academic programs.
“I think the consensus is we want to do it,” said School Board Chairman Tom Mercer. Administrators are drafting a middle school grade policy that could be implemented in phases, starting this fall. It will be presented to the board in the coming months.
Middle school students in Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach have to keep a 2.0 to participate in sports. In Portsmouth, participation is based on discipline.
All Chesapeake middle schools offer eight athletic activities. Seventh- and eighth-grade students who want to participate have to pass a certain number of classes. Sixth-graders may only participate in intramurals.
The study hall portion of the program will cost almost $175,000 and would be available to all students. There would be additional costs for transportation. There is no money in the current proposed operating budget for the program.
Chesapeake implemented the 2.0 GPA policy in the high schools in 1998 for all students participating in Virginia High School League-sanctioned activities. It is more stringent than the state rules.
Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach also have a 2.0 high school requirement.
Amy Couteé, (757) 222-5216, amy.coutee@pilotonline.com
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English Class???
What do misspelled words or grammar have anything to do with the topic? So I take it that by your observation and comment you agree that the 2.0 GPA is a good idea. This is a blog not an English grammar class!!!
2.0 Grade Average in Chesapeake
I think all students should be required to maintain above a 2.0 average. Athletes or not, if you can't do better than 2.0, you should be in the grade under the one you are currently enrolled in. As a Chesapeake taxpayer, you are wasting my money. "I am always willing to learn, however I do not always like to be taught." A Einstein
I can't help but notice...
that every blogger that has posted a comment to this blog thus far has made an error in either grammar or spelling. It is humorous to see such "oversights" on blogs concerning education!
Bring It On!
What a novel idea! Setting real standards for school children!!! It is best to start teaching the middle school athletes the rigors, and the responsibility of having the privilege of representing their school, community and themselves. Besides, the major purpose of school is to get and education. Sports are nice but secondary. I say bring on the higher academic stands. If nothing else it will be good practice for high school when a 2.0 GPA really does have long term affects.
no pass, no play
what a sad place we have come to where a student could be failing a core class, yet balance it with a good grade in basketweaving and keep playing sports. If a student fails, in anything, they need to focus on academics until the next reporting period. I have heard all of the excuses -- won't stay in school w/o sports involvment is probably the craziest one. Taxpayers deserve nothing less -- to pay for distractions -- sports -- from what the students are there for -- to succeed academically -- is nuts. No Pass, No Play
2.0 GPA
Since the implementation of the 2.0 GPA at the High School level what improvement(s) has occurred? There must have been something wrong to make a change. With studies showing that most teenage crime occurring during the timeframe that school lets out until parents come home, this seems like a possible fix. But instead of working with these students we put them on the streets. Athletics teachs teamwork, disicpline, and didication. Things that most teens (troubled or not) need. Don't get me wroung school work is first and most important. In most cases the coach is the driving factor in staying on his/her student athlete about grades and behavior. Kids want attention good or bad, they just what attention. Lets give them a chance to obtain it in a structured environment.