Education-Reform Group Takes Shrinking Stage

There seemed to be as many NCAA staffers as media types in the room for the pre-convention luncheon with Executive Director Cedric W. Dempsey.

Similarly, turnout by the membership has decreased. The number of preregistered delegates dropped about 20% from 1997, most of the shortfall accounted for by Division I members.

So, has the NCAA restructured its convention all the way out of public view?

Major changes impacting Division I schools won’t be happening in full view. These days, the big decisions are made during conference calls and in closed-door committee meetings.

Unlike in 1997, the stage isn’t set for sweeping change. Last year, delegates approved a proposal allowing Division I student-athletes to hold part-time jobs during the school year.

With less fanfare, the Division I Board of Directors in August delayed it. The measure will be discussed here but not yet implemented. Also on the agenda are basketball recruiting issues and possible changes in core-course evaluation.

Attempting to fill the news vacuum Saturday were a handful of education-reform leaders, who issued a letter criticizing the NCAA’s Initial Eligibility Process for certifying high school courses, saying it undermines state and local control of curriculum.

The letter was signed by, among others, three national teachers of the year, the Center of Education Reform and the National Assn. of State Boards of Education.

The group also circulated a three-page letter sent Friday from Minnesota Atty. Gen. Hubert H. Humphrey III to NCAA officials.

“We cited ten specific reasons [in October] why the NCAA Core Course Review requirement and the work of your Clearinghouse have, in effect, impaired the exercise of our educators of their legal responsibilities,” Humphrey wrote.

Humphrey also added that the state of Minnesota might “be forced to consider pursuing our remedies in other forums.”

“He noted that he will be working with other attorney generals,” said Joe Nathan of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota. “Skip Humphrey is very active in the national effort to challenge tobacco companies and he intends to do the same thing here.

“The NCAA is to improved student achievement as the tobacco companies are to health.”

In Atlanta, the NCAA Board of Directors will review possible modifications to the current system. “I don’t know if we will give up the right to total review,” Dempsey said. “Certainly, in the past year, we’ve made some real effort to work through the concerns.”