Texas No Pass No Play Rule

Is “No Pass, No Play” Good for Texas? Many school systems in the state of Texas participate in the University Interscholastic League and their competitive events in performance, academic, and athletic categories. These events promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and creativity in students. However, there are rules and stipulations to who can compete in these events, to ensure that students retain their good academic standing, and making sure that the events stay fair. One of these rules in particular is the “no pass, no play” rule, which essentially states that if a student is not passing a class, by attaining a grade of 70 or higher, then they cannot participate in school sponsored extracurricular activities. The “no pass, no play” rule has affected the academic career of many students since its implementation over 30 years ago. In 1984, a reform of the school system was held in Texas. Pushing this reform, Ross Perot proposed
According to several studies (Harrison 33), participation in extracurricular activities such as band, theatre, and athletics is linked to improved academic achievement. High school students surveyed said that their involvement in these activities played an important role in their education, and these students did show higher grades than those not involved. Other studies conducted soon after the rule went into effect in Texas schools found that dropout rates were lower for students participating in extracurricular activities (Harrison 38), although, it should be noted that these studies were conducted in the late 1980’s. Speaking from personal experience, many students, including myself, that find out they are or are at risk of becoming ineligible start working harder in that particular class so they can continue to participate. Due to the teamwork that these UIL events nurture, other students involved in the same activities would try and help their friend who’s