Some CT School Districts Not Allowing "Opt-Out" Students to Play

CONNECTICUT — As Connecticut schools began opening this week and will do so through next Tuesday, high school teams continue conditioning workouts, which resumed Aug. 24 after a brief hiatus, and non-contact sport specific skill work, which began last Saturday. Both conditioning and skill work are taking part in small cohorts of no more than 10 participants.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, most state school districts are reopening with a hybrid learning plan, combining a return to in-person classes and distance learning. Data released this week by Gov. Ned Lamont indicates about 28 percent of the state's districts plan to reopen with a temporary hybrid schedule, with another 41 percent operating on a hybrid model indefinitely. Some cities, like Danbury and New Haven, are beginning the school year with online classes only.

Most towns have given an "opt-out" option to parents, allowing them to keep their children out of school buildings for safety or other concerns. In Ellington, for example, the "Distance Learning option means a parent elects for his/her child to learn from home - regardless of what reopening model the district selects - and is enrolled in the Ellington Public Schools following all policies and expectations."

The unprecedented issue of students receiving instruction from home via a distance learning model has brought to light the question of eligibility of those students wishing to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

In announcing its decision to move forward with a fall sports plan, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) emphasized, "the decision on eligibility of students who choose a full distance model of learning will be made at the district level, provided the student is otherwise eligible."

On Tuesday, Patch emailed superintendents and athletic directors throughout the state, asking about sports eligibility. As of Thursday morning, representatives of 69 Connecticut high schools had responded, with all but 10 saying students opting for distance learning only would still be able to participate.

The 10 high schools at which students not attending in-person classes were deemed not eligible for sports or other school activities are:

• Amity Regional
• East Windsor
• Fairfield Ludlowe
• Fairfield Warde
• Nonnewaug
• Rockville
• Shelton
• Tolland
• Waterford
• Weston

The reopening plan for Fairfield schools contained this excerpt: "Students and families who opt for remote learning while in-person instruction is available are not afforded the ability to participate in any on-campus extracurricular activities including sports."

Likewise, Regional School District 14, which includes Nonnewaug High School, adopted this policy: "Remote Only Learning students will not be eligible to participate in any in-person classes, in-person school-sponsored events, extracurricular activities or sports."

East Windsor superintendent Christine DeBarge wrote, "We do not have a BOE policy about this but the decision has been to not allow students who opted out to participate in any extracurricular activities including athletics."

"Vernon is not allowing students who choose full virtual learning to participate in sports or after school activities," Rockville High School athletic director Jeff Farrell wrote in an email. "This was a district decision and has been communicated to families."

Don't miss local and statewide news from all across Connecticut. Register for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters.