Education Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING HIRING STANDARDS FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
SUMMARY: This act (1) establishes in statute, with some changes, hiring standards for school and school district athletic directors that were in state regulations, (2) requires that all directors hired on or after October 1, 2013 meet the new standards, and (3) permits those hired before that date to continue in their current jobs even if they do not meet the new standards. It establishes duties for all school and school district athletic directors.
It also makes conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2013, except July 1, 2013 for the provisions regarding coach evaluations and regulations for coach qualifications.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STANDARDS
The act defines “athletic director” as someone responsible for (1) administering the athletic program of a school or school district under a local or regional board of education and (2) supervising athletic coaches.
The act establishes two levels of athletic director qualifications, one for school director and one for school district director. Both standards apply to those hired on or after October 1, 2013 (see Table 1 below).
Table 1: Athletic Director Standards
Program Responsibility |
Prior Law (regulations) |
The Act |
Individual School (non supervisory) |
● SBE issued coaching permit |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and either ● state educator's certificate or national athletic administrators association-issued certificate, as approved by the SDE |
Individual School (supervisory) |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and ● state educator's certificate |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and either ● state educator's certificate or national athletic administrators association-issued certificate, as approved by the SDE |
School District |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and ● state educator's certificate with endorsement for intermediate administration or supervision |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and either ● state educator's certificate with endorsement for intermediate administration or supervision or a master's certificate from a national athletic administrators association, as approved by SDE |
Responsible for evaluation of state certified staff |
● SBE issued coaching permit, and ● state educator's certificate with endorsement for intermediate administration or supervision |
● same as under regulations |
EXISTING ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
School or school district athletic directors hired before October 1, 2013, who do not meet the new standards can continue to serve in their current positions if they met the director qualifications stated in regulations at the time they were hired.
The act prevents any local or regional board of education from hiring a person “grandfathered” in at another district for its district, unless the person can meet the act's standards.
DIRECTOR DUTIES
The act states an athletic director's responsibilities, which apply whether the person directs a program for a school or a district. They include:
1. ensuring that each athletic coach in the athletic program holds a SBE-issued coaching permit;
2. supervising and evaluating athletic coaches, according to the act's provisions;
3. supervising students participating in interscholastic athletics;
4. possessing knowledge and understanding of the governing authority for interscholastic athletics and the related rules and regulations;
5. administering and arranging the scheduling of and transportation to athletic activities and events;
6. administering and arranging the hiring of officials;
7. ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all athletic activities and events; and
8. any other duties relevant to the organization and administration of the athletic program for the school or school district.
The act also makes conforming changes to the law requiring coaches to be evaluated by their supervisors annually. It adds the requirement that each coach be given a copy of his or her evaluation.
REGULATIONS
The act also requires the SBE to adopt regulations fixing the qualifications for athletic coaches as the act defines.
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