The Illinois High School Association’s Legislative Commission voted Monday (Nov. 28) to advance eight proposals to amend the IHSA Constitution and Bylaws to a vote of the general membership. The Commission voted after hearing feedback from member school personnel at 28 town meetings held virtually and in-person around the state during the month of November.
The ballot containing the proposals will be available to each member school’s official representative in the IHSA’s online Schools Center, beginning Monday, December 5. The deadline to submit the ballot is midnight, Sunday, December 18. The ballots will be tabulated, and the results posted on Monday, December 19. Schools may vote in favor, against, or no opinion on each proposal. A simple majority of yes or no votes cast will determine whether each proposal passes.
Here is a summary of the proposals on the ballot:
- Proposal 1: Expands the representatives who can be nominated and elected to the Legislative Commission representing Districts to include Official Representatives and adds administrators from underrepresented schools to represent the minority at-large seats on the commission.
- Proposal 2: Adds a requirement for any student to meet the attendance by-law to be in attendance for at least one class at the member school in addition to other classes taken in a program approved by the member school.
- Proposal 6: Extends the opportunity for limited eligibility to be granted to students who do not meet the transfer by-law when transferring prior to the start of the junior year.
- Proposal 7: Modify the 8-semesters of eligibility to be 8 consecutive semesters of eligibility permitting no pause in semesters of eligibility after starting as a ninth grader.
- Proposal 8: Adds language that would prohibit school personnel from engaging in any conversation related to athletic participation with individuals representing or employed by a private athletic organization who are speaking about a student-athlete.
- Proposal 9: By-law 3.082 increases the contribution permitted from a school towards a ring/memento for winning a state championship from $200 to $300.
- Proposal 10: By-law 3.083 and new sections: Adds language related to Name Image and Likeness (NIL) activities by students by creating specific limitations of those activities.
- Proposal 11: Increases the number of players in football permitted to go against an opponent in the summer from 5 on 5 to 11 on 11. The number of times this may occur in the summer remains at 4 separate times. (Still limited to helmet and shoulder pads as maximum equipment.)
To read full text of all proposals submitted this year, click here.