Tennessee High School Sports governing body approves one-time transfer

The governing body for Tennessee high school sports approved the one-time transfer proposal for athletes. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Legislative Council ratified the policy via an 8-4 vote, allowing students one free transfer to another school.

However, as The Tennessean’s Tyler Palmateer wrote, the transfer cannot be for athletic reasons. The transfer is only valid if addressed through the TSSAA’s hardship rule. Therefore, the transfer can only be valid under academic, environmental, social-emotional, or mental health reasons. Likewise, the school administrator from the school of origin must validate that the transfer is not for disciplinary or athletic reasons.

The one-time transfer proposal underwent three voting opportunities, but with different guidelines. The first voting occurred last month based on the proposal made by Chattanooga’s Baylor School, which mirrors House Bill 0025 filed by Representative Scott Cepicky. The common language is that all Tennessee high school sports athletes are allowed a one-time transfer regardless of reason.

The TSSAA Legislative Council denied that proposal in a 12-0 vote, partly because of Florida’s loose transfer rules. Governor Rick Scott signed the law in 2016, allowing Florida high school athletes to enroll in any public school that hasn’t reached its student capacity. In doing so, the student-athlete immediately becomes eligible to play for the new school.

Meanwhile, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee proposed that transferring students for academic reasons can retain their varsity eligibility. However, the principals of the school of origin and school of transfer must validate the academic transfer. The council unanimously denied this proposal as well.

Originally slated for an April return, the council conducted a special meeting to finalize the proposal. An approval of a statewide school voucher program added pressure to the athletic governing body to finalize the transfer rule. But in doing so, the TSSAA staff proposed a revised policy which was put to vote.

Before the new transfer policy, Tennessee high school sports athletes who transferred to a school in a different zone must satisfy a one-year residency. However, that rule is void if the athlete can prove a valid change of address.