Leading off today: The people have spoken, and the the board charged with setting education policy in New York has backed off -- at least for now -- voting on a proposal that would allow high school boys to compete in girls-only sports.
The vote by the Board of Regents was to take place during today's monthly meeting, but a report over the weekend said the topic had been removed from Tuesday's agenda.
A spokesman for the State Education Department told The Journal News the vote had been tabled, pending further review of what was characterized as hundreds of public comments on the proposal. That agency had formulated the proposal and recommended that the Regents support it, and the spokesman suggested a version would be re-submitted to the Regents at a later date.
The proposal would allow boys to play on girls sports teams when there is no equivalent boys team, like with softball, field hockey and flag football. While the policy would also make it easier for girls to compete in boys sports such as football, the overwhelming concern has been the possibility of female athletes suddenly losing participation opportunities to boys and potentially suffering injuries playing alongside them.
The Journal News reported the proposal originated with a 2022 complaint from a female student who contended the requirements to her to play football for her Bronx private school were unfair. The State Education Department presented its proposal to the Regents early this year, and negative reactions poured in. The New York State Athletic Administrators Association came out as "adamantly opposed and rightfully concerned about the potential physical, mental, and liability implications for school districts, community members, families, and specifically, female athletes. These implications could include increased risk of injury, unfair competition, and potential loss of opportunities in their respective sports."
The NYSAAA statement also subtly addressed the elephant in the room that advocates for the policy change suggest doesn't exist when it concluded by asserting the "mandate is unnecessary, irresponsible, and an infringement upon girls' sports during a time when their chosen sports are being invaded by politics."
That spoke to a suspicion by some that nuanced language was being used to pave the way for an influx of transgender athletes in sports such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track and field, a concern exacerbated by State Education Department language citing a commitment to "providing athletes of all (emphasis added) genders equal opportunities to play and participate ..."
