Will Ohio ban pay-to-play school activities?
Officials seek ways to end extracurricular fees without overburdening districts
Central Ohio has the highest percentage of schools charging pay-to-play fees in the state, according to a 2014 survey. Players at Olentangy Liberty, shown charging onto the field before a home game against Upper Arlington last season, pay an $80 fee.
In his 22 years as a head high-school football coach in Ohio, state Sen. Cliff Hite’s athletes never were required to pay a fee just to join the team. But he saw what happened when a rival did that.
“There were a lot of young kids in Marion (Harding) that couldn’t play football anymore,” the Findlay Republican said. “As the opponent, you sit there and go, ‘Maybe that’s going to be an easy win, but is that what we’re here for?’ I think we should give every kid that opportunity.”
Hite said he plans to convene an informal study committee this fall to discuss what can be done about pay-to-play fees that many say can be detrimental to students and their families.
Over the years, a growing number of Ohio school districts have implemented what’s commonly known as pay-to-play fees that a family must pay in order for a student to participate in extracurricular activities.
A 2014 survey by the Ohio High School Athletic Association found that 46 percent of athletic directors said their schools had some type of pay-to-play fee, up from 42 percent in a 2011 survey. Central Ohio has the highest percentage of schools charging the fees, at 63 percent, while northeastern Ohio has the highest average rates, at $153 per sport or activity.
Hite was drawn into the issue by Secretary of State Jon Husted.
Husted has talked to the OHSAA and legislative leaders about finding bipartisan sponsors for a bill that, he hopes, would one day make Ohio one of the first states in the country to ban pay-to-play fees. He said he’s trying to bring along groups, including school districts, to assure them it’s about helping kids in a way that doesn’t cause schools financial stress.
Extracurricular activities teach leadership, character, teamwork and grit, Husted said, adding that if kids are increasingly growing up in poverty and in broken families, with fewer holding after-school jobs, where do they learn those skills if they aren’t in those activities?
“If we’re going to develop the character of our young people, more of them have to participate in the kind of character-building activities that extracurriculars provide.”
Hite said he expects the committee to study a range of topics related to high-school athletics, including concussions and sudden cardiac arrest. Pay-to-play fees will be a major issue.
“I’m not sure what avenue we’re going to take yet,” Hite said, noting he wants to avoid creating financial burdens on schools.
Fees can vary widely. Columbus, for example, charges no fee for athletics, while New Albany charges $625 per sport.
Factors including limited state funding increases (or cuts), and local levy failures have pushed more districts to charge a pay-to-play fee.
“Schools will often hold athletics as a bargaining chip, and that’s unfortunate,” said Tim Stried, director of information services for the OHSAA, noting that the athletic department budgets are a small percentage of a district’s total operating costs. “We just ask schools to do the best they can in keeping those fees low and offering discounts for multiple sports or within a family."
After a levy failure in 2011 and subsequent $7 million deficit, Westerville schools raised a number of fees for nonacademic clubs, performing arts and athletics. Pay-to-play went from $100 per sport to $240.
Fees generate nearly $600,000 per year for the district, though that Will Ohio ban pay-to-play school activities? | The Columbus Dispatch: