NJSIAA takes heat for new policy impacting 'non-traditional' schools
A new policy meant to level the playing field between schools that have locked geographic borders and schools that don't was under attack Wednesday.
ROBBINSVILLE – The NJSIAA Executive Committee got an earful May 13, but don’t expect much to change. Brenda Liss, legal counsel for the Newark Board of Education, alleged that the competitive balance formula is ‘arbitrary’ and is ‘having a disparate impact’ on urban school districts such as Shabazz and Camden. The formula impacts 'non-traditional' public schools that don't have strict geographic borders up a group in football and basketball if they meet a success threshold.
The competitive balance formula is the NJSIAA’s attempt to balance the playing field between schools with locked geographic borders and schools that are choice schools, tuition schools or take in students from satellite academic programs. Those types of schools may have the same number of students enrolled, but have the ability to draw kids from a larger area, which can be an advantage that translates into greater success. The competitive balance formula looks at performance in recent state tournaments.
Liss pointed out that only three schools − Shabazz, Camden and Ramapo − were moved up in multiple sports. All three are moving up in football and boys basketball. “We feel like it is unfair to Newark – we would add in Camden,” Liss said in her remarks, “where schools are largely serving low-income families.
Why not have it apply to all other athletic programs like lacrosse? The competitive balance policy punishes teams that have enrollment standards that reflect our state’s policy like school choice. ” Liss at one point said that no one "would call Shabazz a football powerhouse," but that's debatable.
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