(Des Moines, IA) -- This fall, socioeconomic factors will be a factor high school football competition. The Iowa State Board of Education has approved a plan proposed by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. It means a school's football classification, will be influenced by how many students are on free and reduced price lunches. Schools voted in favor of the plan last month.
“We appreciate the State Board of Education’s diligence and careful consideration of the proposal our membership has asked us to implement,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “This classification model is an important first step in addressing competitive equity in the sport of football.”
The classification adjustment will reduce 40 percent of a school’s free or reduced lunch (FRL) count from their annual enrollment to determine their final classification number.
“The State Board recognized the historical competitive challenges, supported by the data our staff assembled, which some of our schools have experienced,” Keating said. “The Board acknowledged the support from our member schools in this issue.”
The IHSAA will now develop new district and group assignments, then new schedules for the two-year cycle.