Major changes to the designation of high school sports teams in-regards-to gender were put on-hold with the Alaska School Activities Board of Directors deciding to take no action on changing the ASAA policies regarding team designations at the ASAA Spring General Meeting held in Valdez.
Following two days of debate and public comment, the ASAA Board released a statement that “it would be premature to change the ASAA bylaw” in advance of the state education department adopting changes to regulations “that would have the practical effect of compelling ASAA to make a change to its bylaws in the future.”
ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland stated, “the board felt like until we know what the change in regulations would be, it’s really hard for us to adopt something that may or may not meet that requirement.”
The current (Alaska) State Board of Education and Early Development Resolution 02-2023, which was adopted in March, is currently under review and possible revision.
Resolution 02- 2023
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development supports the passage of regulations proposed by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and reviewed by the people of Alaska to prioritize competitive fairness and safety on the playing field while allowing all students to participate in activities. To ensure the ongoing support of students in athletic competitions Alaska Education Regulations should:
1. Provide a girls’ division with participation based on a student’s sex at birth, and
2. Provide a division for students who identify with either sex or gender; and
3. Provide a process for appeal for all students.
The conditions listed in Resolution 02-2023.
The ASAA Board discussed changes to ASAA Bylaws Article 7 on Sanctioned Activities; specifically on separate sports divisions.
Changes before the ASAA Board, according to Strickland, would have amended Article 7 to directly address sport designation. Double Division Sports, sports with two designated team (girls and boys), for example basketball, would designate one team solely comprised of biological females, while the other team is open to both biological males and females.
The final revision language for ASAA Article 7 (changes in BOLD), which was not voted on or approved:
Article 7: Section B. Separate Divisions for Teams and Contact Sports: Separate divisions for teams for each biological sex are permissible in contact sports or where selection for teams is based on competitive skill. Contact sports include wrestling, ice hockey, football, basketball, and any other sport “the purpose or major activity of which involves bodily contact.” C. Sports Divisions Single- Division Sports: Whenever a school has a team in a given sport for one sex only, and athletic opportunities for the other sex have been limited, members of both sexes must be allowed to try out for the team. Double Division Sports: Whenever a school has two divisions in a given sport, one team shall be solely comprised of biological females, while the other team is open to both biological males and females. However, a biological female is ineligible to compete on both teams during the same school year. Coed Teams: Prior to the first contest of the season for a specific sport, a school may declare a team as a coed team. If a school chooses to have a coed team, then it may not have a separate team in that sport. Any school declaring a coed team may not compete in any district, regional or state competition in the girls’ playoffs. An exception to the playoff rule is made for mixed-six volleyball when a separate playoff category is provided by the Board of Directors.
The current ASAA by-laws regarding Article 7 w/proposed changes: Click Here!
Further complicating and influencing the ASAA Board decision was a letter received from Anchorage Assembly Chair Christopher Constant and Assembly Member Felix Rivera on Anchorage’s position on the issue.
The letter implied that if ASAA approved the changes to Article 7, the Anchorage School District would be forced to “withdraw from all ASAA sanctioned sports activities in order to maintain compliance with the Municipality of Anchorage’s (MOA) non-discrimination laws. This would be a great loss for ASAA, ASD, and most improtantly, for all of the student athletes in the Anchorage School District”.
Letter from Anchorage Assembly Members Constant and Rivera
