Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 4, 2009 8:54:08 GMT -5
www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/04/article/college_prep_transfers_reviewed_in_high_schools
College prep transfers reviewed in high schools
Thursday, June 4, 2009
By Robert Bell
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO — Guilford County Schools’ widening investigation into Northern Guilford’s athletics program has expanded to another suspect: the school system itself.
Officials want to examine whether college prep programs at five high schools are allowing families of student athletes to abuse an already-liberal transfer policy.
Nora Carr, chief of staff for Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green, said Wednesday school system officials are turning their investigation inward based on information that has come to light from the ongoing probe at Northern Guilford.
“Issues have surfaced as names have been brought forward to us,” Carr said. “We’re still looking at issues with Northern, but we also want to look at our (college prep programs) and see if there’s any work to be done there.”
The district prohibits students from transferring for athletics reasons. Yet many county coaches say parents and students increasingly are doing just that — using a high school’s college prep program to gain access to its athletics program.
As part of its school-choice policy, Guilford County Schools has allowed students greater access to high schools beyond their traditional boundaries since 1993.
Students interested in a rigorous academic program can apply to Grimsley, High Point Central, Smith or Page, all of which offer International Baccalaureate programs, or to the Dudley Academy, a similar college-prep program at Dudley.
Students also can transfer to another county high school if that school offers an academic course or program unavailable at the student’s former school.
Students can remain enrolled in an IB program or the Dudley Academy provided they remain academically eligible. If not, they must transfer back to their original school.
Carr said school system officials want to make sure administrators at the IB schools and Dudley Academy “know what our policies are on accepting and keeping students enrolled.”
About 2,000 students transfer from one Guilford County school to another each year, according to school system officials.
Reasons vary from a family divorce to a new home to enrolling in a school’s college prep program.
Carr said school system officials are pondering ways to monitor students who enroll in those programs and also play sports.
She said it’s unlikely district officials will monitor every student who plays sports.
“We might pull a few student-athletes’ files and look at a variety of things like (grades) and residency and such,” she said. “We want to beef up the enforcement side of it.”
That’s good news to coaches such as Tommy Pursley. Northeast Guilford’s football coach was asked Wednesday night if he supported stricter monitoring of a high school’s college prep program.
“Absolutely 100 percent,” said Pursley. “Of course, I’m at a school that doesn’t have one.”
Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com
College prep transfers reviewed in high schools
Thursday, June 4, 2009
By Robert Bell
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO — Guilford County Schools’ widening investigation into Northern Guilford’s athletics program has expanded to another suspect: the school system itself.
Officials want to examine whether college prep programs at five high schools are allowing families of student athletes to abuse an already-liberal transfer policy.
Nora Carr, chief of staff for Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green, said Wednesday school system officials are turning their investigation inward based on information that has come to light from the ongoing probe at Northern Guilford.
“Issues have surfaced as names have been brought forward to us,” Carr said. “We’re still looking at issues with Northern, but we also want to look at our (college prep programs) and see if there’s any work to be done there.”
The district prohibits students from transferring for athletics reasons. Yet many county coaches say parents and students increasingly are doing just that — using a high school’s college prep program to gain access to its athletics program.
As part of its school-choice policy, Guilford County Schools has allowed students greater access to high schools beyond their traditional boundaries since 1993.
Students interested in a rigorous academic program can apply to Grimsley, High Point Central, Smith or Page, all of which offer International Baccalaureate programs, or to the Dudley Academy, a similar college-prep program at Dudley.
Students also can transfer to another county high school if that school offers an academic course or program unavailable at the student’s former school.
Students can remain enrolled in an IB program or the Dudley Academy provided they remain academically eligible. If not, they must transfer back to their original school.
Carr said school system officials want to make sure administrators at the IB schools and Dudley Academy “know what our policies are on accepting and keeping students enrolled.”
About 2,000 students transfer from one Guilford County school to another each year, according to school system officials.
Reasons vary from a family divorce to a new home to enrolling in a school’s college prep program.
Carr said school system officials are pondering ways to monitor students who enroll in those programs and also play sports.
She said it’s unlikely district officials will monitor every student who plays sports.
“We might pull a few student-athletes’ files and look at a variety of things like (grades) and residency and such,” she said. “We want to beef up the enforcement side of it.”
That’s good news to coaches such as Tommy Pursley. Northeast Guilford’s football coach was asked Wednesday night if he supported stricter monitoring of a high school’s college prep program.
“Absolutely 100 percent,” said Pursley. “Of course, I’m at a school that doesn’t have one.”
Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com