Overview:
The Georgia High School Association is revising its rules on student-athlete transfers, particularly those who transfer more than twice after the 9th-grade year.
As of Tuesday morning, the Georgia High School Association is revising its rules on student-athlete transfers, particularly those who transfer more than twice after the 9th-grade year.
At the latest GHSA Board of Trustees meeting, updates were made to Bylaw 1.60, which governs school service areas, student transfers, migrant students, and migratory waivers. What’s also included in the bylaw is that all incoming transfers are required to prove that they are making a bona fide move, which would consist of the athlete’s family providing copies of driver’s licenses, utility bills, and lease agreements.
Other key changes in the policy would include: transfer limits for students after 9th grade. Students who transfer twice after entering ninth grade will now be ruled ineligible for athletic participation for one year. This rule applies to transfers between schools that are members of the GHSA. As outlined in section 1.62-C3, eligibility is initially established when a student properly enrolls at a GHSA school and resides in the correct school zone.
Also, more proof of residence will be required. This includes families of incoming transfer students, who must now provide documented evidence of a bona fide move, or a change in residence to the new school zone. Acceptable documentation includes driver’s licenses, utility bills, and rental agreements, and may also include verification of parents’ names on the birth certificate.
In addition, proof that the previous residence has been completely vacated is required. The new rule also mandates that the entire family must relocate with the student.
Of the 13 GHSA Board of Trustees members who voted, the bylaw was passed by everyone except one member. The rule update hasn’t been officially approved yet. GHSA will vote on the update in early July.