Interpretation of the new transfer rules

[trilogy]

Starting this thread to discuss specifically the interpretation of the new rules, as opposed to the existing thread which had a lot of speculation of what might be passed.

Haven't read the whole 6-page proposed rules myself, but this StarTrib reporter has. Interesting interpretation of eligibility he says that kids retain eligibility at their old school even though they are at a new one? So a kid that lives in St Louis Park could transfer to Benilde, sit out a year of athletics there but still play any sport for SLP in the meantime? Of course, if SLP would let them do that, that is another issue.

More details on the transfer rules
Monday, February 5th, 2007 by John Millea, Star Tribune

After the MSHSL board of directors approved the proposed change in transfer bylaws last week, I spent the next day or so looking through the six-page document and phoning the MSHSL for clarification on some parts of it.
I have written about the broad ramifications of the proposal, which is expected to be approved by the MSHSL representative assembly March 16 and take effect March 30. But here are a few other important points:

*FINE ARTS/ The new rules will also apply to students engaged in fine arts activities sponsored by the MSHSL. That means debate, music, one-act play, speech and visual arts. The MSHSL normally sponsors only “state tournament” type events in these activities, so students could still take part in all other events.

*PUBLIC TO PRIVATE TRANSFERS/ If a student wants to transfer from a public school to a private school, the student’s family has to change residence. It’s odd, but it
doesn’t matter where they move to. Example: A student who lives in the Burnsville public school district and attends Burnsville High School wants to transfer to Holy Angels (which is in Richfield) and be immediately eligible for varsity sports. The only way that can happen is if the family moves out of the Burnsville school district. They can move anywhere they like, as long as it’s into a different public school district

*OPEN ENROLLMENT/ If a student uses the open enrollment option for academic reasons to attend a different school, that student retains his/her eligibility for varsity activities for one year at the school he/she no longer attends classes. That means students can attend classes at one school and be a varsity athlete at another school for a one-year period. After one year, the student will be eligible for varsity competition at the school he/she has open-enrolled into.

More details will come to light in the coming days.

How do you feel about this proposal, now that it’s one step from becoming fact? Let me know.

John Millea is at jmillea@startribune.com

[xk1]

I can't find the link to the article you are referencing, could you post it?

[trilogy]

Sorry, xk, here is the link:

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/preps/

Does anyone have an actual copy of the proposed rule? Would like to read it but I don't see it on the mshsl site. Wonder if this reporter would share it?

[ghshockeyfan]

Sorry, xk, here is the link:

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/preps/

Does anyone have an actual copy of the proposed rule? Would like to read it but I don't see it on the mshsl site. Wonder if this reporter would share it?

I'm as interested about the chang-over period from old to new rule as anything. Could there be a small window to still xfer post current HS year but pre-implementation of new rule on Jun 15???

[xk1]

I just emailed John at the Strib, he said the document is too long for them to publish but the MSHSL has promised to post it soon on their site.

[trilogy]

GHS, can you get a copy of the new rules or post a link? I can't find one.

[ghshockeyfan]

GHS, can you get a copy of the new rules or post a link? I can't find one.

We may have to wait as XK says unless I can find one quickly on my own...

[ghshockeyfan]

golferguy



Joined: 24 Oct 2006
Posts: 13

Posted: 06 Feb 2007 11:03 Post subject:

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What if a hockey player was to transfer after the hockey season this year, lets say around April 1 to a new school. Would the player be eligible to play for that team next year since she transferred before start of next year?

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ghshockeyfan



Joined: 05 Jun 2003
Posts: 3604
Location: Edina/IGH/NSP MN
Posted: 06 Feb 2007 11:52 Post subject:

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golferguy wrote:
What if a hockey player was to transfer after the hockey season this year, lets say around April 1 to a new school. Would the player be eligible to play for that team next year since she transferred before start of next year?


No - as they'd sit out half a year in all sports under the current rule. If they wait until this Summer they'd sit out a full year under new rule. I think I have this right?
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SEMetro



Joined: 02 Jun 2005
Posts: 127

Posted: 06 Feb 2007 12:07 Post subject:

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I suspect that the case of someone transfer this year would not have next year's sports beyond a half year but I wouldn't take any chances until there is more clarification. One area that may not fly at all would be someone claiming that the rule should not apply to them because they had paperwork in order before the rule was in place, but did not set foot into the new school until after the rule was in place.

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xk1



Joined: 29 Jul 2005
Posts: 544

Posted: 06 Feb 2007 12:23 Post subject:

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Quote:
One area that may not fly at all would be someone claiming that the rule should not apply to them because they had paperwork in order before the rule was in place, but did not set foot into the new school until after the rule was in place.


It's kind of hard to OE, get accepted and then be in the new school prior to the first day. These people won't have to sit, they just need to be accepted by their new school prior to June 15.

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ghshockeyfan



Joined: 05 Jun 2003
Posts: 3604
Location: Edina/IGH/NSP MN
Posted: 06 Feb 2007 13:29 Post subject:

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xk1 wrote:
Quote:
One area that may not fly at all would be someone claiming that the rule should not apply to them because they had paperwork in order before the rule was in place, but did not set foot into the new school until after the rule was in place.


It's kind of hard to OE, get accepted and then be in the new school prior to the first day. These people won't have to sit, they just need to be accepted by their new school prior to June 15.


Let me clairify, if you transfer during a school year currently you have to sit the current rule (half year in all sports).

There may be a small window where it's kind of up-in-the-air on the punishment for movement due to the transition to the new rule. I would assume this would be between the end of your current HS school year and the start of the new rule Jun 15??? Now, most schools will end pre-Jun 15 so there may be a week window in there where you could xfer under old policy with no punishment if 1st xfer??? The MSHSL may fix this potential loophole though too once they make the final vote???
_________________
http://www.bgoski.com

[SEMetro]

I don't think you can go by paper transfer dates. Otherwise, for every kid that transfers on paper by June 15, you could have the situation where a kid paper transfers by June 15, changes his/her mind for any number of reasons after June 15, and then - what? - sit out a full year? without ever spending a day in another school?

I thought I recalled something that focused on where the kid was on the first day of school.

[xk1]

If you never showed up you never transferred and therefore are still eligible at your old school. The new twist is even if you do show up you are eligible at your old school.

[trilogy]

*PUBLIC TO PRIVATE TRANSFERS/ If a student wants to transfer from a public school to a private school, the student’s family has to change residence. It’s odd, but it
doesn’t matter where they move to. Example: A student who lives in the Burnsville public school district and attends Burnsville High School wants to transfer to Holy Angels (which is in Richfield) and be immediately eligible for varsity sports. The only way that can happen is if the family moves out of the Burnsville school district. They can move anywhere they like, as long as it’s into a different public school district

Isn't the ability to enroll in a private school and be immediately eligible for varsity sports still preserved for the entering 9th grader? Or presumably, a 7th or 8th grader that may have played varsity in some sport in their public school. In other words does the above only apply to transfers after 9th grade?

[MNHockeyFan]

Isn't the ability to enroll in a private school and be immediately eligible for varsity sports still preserved for the entering 9th grader? Or presumably, a 7th or 8th grader that may have played varsity in some sport in their public school. In other words does the above only apply to transfers after 9th grade?

To the best of my knowledge the answers to your questions are "yes" and "yes". I believe the only difference in the way public school kids and private school kids are treated involve where their families move to in transfer situations occuring once 9th grade begins. The family of a public school transfer must move to the new school district to become immediately eligible whereas the family of a private school kid can move anywhere as long as it's not withing the same district as they are currently in.

Someone will chime in if this interpretation is incorrect....

[keepitreal]

*PUBLIC TO PRIVATE TRANSFERS/ If a student wants to transfer from a public school to a private school, the student’s family has to change residence. It’s odd, but it
doesn’t matter where they move to. Example: A student who lives in the Burnsville public school district and attends Burnsville High School wants to transfer to Holy Angels (which is in Richfield) and be immediately eligible for varsity sports. The only way that can happen is if the family moves out of the Burnsville school district. They can move anywhere they like, as long as it’s into a different public school district

Isn't the ability to enroll in a private school and be immediately eligible for varsity sports still preserved for the entering 9th grader? Or presumably, a 7th or 8th grader that may have played varsity in some sport in their public school. In other words does the above only apply to transfers after 9th grade?

I would think so. There's any number of private schools that "end" at 8th grade requiring entry to a different school in 9th. Now if the student had participated on a varsity sport before (vs. association hockey) that might change things. Until we see the full proposal instead of just a few highlights in the Strib (more than the MSHSL has provided however), we can't extrapolate all the scenarios.

The question now is, when will this proposal language be made public, before or AFTER it is adopted? C'mon MSHSL! Apparently we have to depend on the periodic blogging of a newspaper reporter to learn what they are proposing. There is no reason why the content of this proposal can't be made available to the public via the MSHSL website now.

[xk1]

My guess is they need to prepare a Q&A to explain what the rules really mean, it's how they do everything else since it is always written so poorly.

Second, they are likely still working out some issues prior to submitting it the general assembly.

OE papers had to be submitted by Jan 15th and you get approval by March so they have no worries. The privates have some other issues as their acceptance dates tend to lag the publics. They could be working on some wording for that as well.

What I wish they would do is implement the new rules with a half year penalty the next year and a full year after.

[ghshockeyfan]

FWIW I'm sure they'll have the "rules" and then the "interpretations" of FAQ for a lot of what we're talking about. I guess some of this we won't know until they post some of that info. Interesting to speculate though!

[ghshockeyfan]

http://media.startribune.com/smedia/200 ... iate.2.pdf

http://www.startribune.com/526/story/990889.html

[xk1]

students who want to transfer under the current rules need to have their paperwork completed by March 30.

I guess this answers a lot of questions and those who were planning a trasfer prior to the new rules should be covered.

[ghshockeyfan]

It seems our lawmakers may have something to say about how this all plays out as well???

In the meantime, it would appear that to be certain a xfer is by current rules you'd have to get it going paperwork wise by March 30, but with the vote being the 16th MSHSL wise I'd likely get it done ASAP if you want to be under the old rules...

[MNHockeyFan]

It seems our lawmakers may have something to say about how this all plays out as well???

In the meantime, it would appear that to be certain a xfer is by current rules you'd have to get it going paperwork wise by March 30, but with the vote being the 16th MSHSL wise I'd likely get it done ASAP if you want to be under the old rules...

I know at least one bill has been introduced in the Legislature that would overturn it, but my guess is that it will never come to a vote and the new rules will pass, possibly with some modifications. I read a couple of days ago that the MSHSL has already agreed to take the Arts (debate, drama, etc.) out of the mix.