NCAA HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW GROUP

HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW UPDATE

After the adoption by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and NCAA Division II Presidents Council of the legislation to permit the NCAA to conduct a review of high schools used in the NCAA initial-eligibility process, the following procedures have been implemented.

1. The NCAA High School Review Group has been established to set the policy for the staff and to serve as the appellate body for any decisions issued by the NCAA staff. This group conducted its first in-person meeting November 29-30.

2. Implementation of the policies has been approved by the Board and the Presidents Council to begin the review of high schools. The process has been built and the team has been established to carry out the reviews.

3. Continued work with legal counsel to enhance the policies and ensure appropriate protections are in place. In-depth policies and procedures, as well as guidelines for evaluating various high school entities, have been approved by the high school review group and will be reviewed by the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet at its February 2007 meeting.

4. Discussions have been initiated with departments of education, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, curriculum entities who deliver nontraditional education, regional accreditation agencies and others to try to build relationships and seek appropriate assistance.

5. The NCAA released a list of high schools July 5 that were not cleared and a grouping of schools that remained under review.

6. Twenty-seven high schools were listed as cleared for the 2006-07 academic year, but further review was needed beyond the 2006-07 academic year.

7. Twenty-five high schools were not cleared for use in the NCAA initial-eligibility process.

8. Of the 27 high schools under review July 5, nine schools have provided needed information for the schools to be cleared.

9. A total of approximately 200 high schools have been reviewed.

10. Approximately 65 new high schools have requested a list of NCAA approved core courses since August 1. (This list excludes new public schools.)

11. Many schools are currently being reviewed. NCAA staff is working diligently with high schools to gather all relevant information so a thorough comprehensive review can be conducted.

12. The high school review group has conducted over 20 high school site visits since legislation was adopted.

Additional projects the high school review group is working on:

1. Review information processed through prospective student-athlete review to identify any additional high schools that should be placed under review;

2. Will receive information from the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse regarding any irregularities identified during fall 2006 that should be considered by the high school review group;

3. Examine appropriate means to handle nontraditional educational entities in the review process. Also exploring home school to ensure avenues for abuse are identified; and

4. On-site visits continue to be conducted, including review of curriculum entities and technology based entities.