The proposed rules can be read here: here.
Deputy Chairman Johnson-Dingle
As the State Senator for New York State’s 54th District, I am writing this letter in response to the proposed amendments to Section 135.4 of the Commissioner of Education’s Regulations regarding mixed athletics and extracurricular sports activities. I am deeply concerned that this proposed amendment would have a negative impact on female student-athletes in New York State, their potential, development, and opportunities.
Title IX has given generations of girls and young women, including me and my daughter, the opportunity to participate in middle school, high school and college sports. For many young women, these sports experiences have helped them develop the self-confidence, team building and leadership skills that will help them succeed as women and professionals. For some, they have even opened the door to a college education they might not have been able to pursue without Title IX.
“The proposed amendment, which would force local school districts to allow boys to participate on girls’ sports teams when there are no comparable boys’ teams, would undermine local autonomy, parent and school board input, and the great progress made by girls’ athletes. In SED’s attempt to achieve equality, this amendment would create inequity for all female athletes – inclusion leads to exclusion, and our daughters and granddaughters would lose opportunities.”
If these amendments are adopted, girls athletes throughout New York State would compete for spots against boys, many of whom are bigger, stronger, faster, and have obvious competitive advantages. This would undoubtedly lead to the exclusion of some girls from girls’ sports teams. In fact, under the proposed amendments, school districts could potentially field girls’ sports teams that are comprised of a majority of boys. This is not only unreasonable, but patently unfair to girls and young women who wish to participate in school sports.
In addition to concerns about fairness and opportunity for female athletes, these proposed amendments also raise serious safety concerns: Allowing men to participate in women’s sports, especially contact sports, would increase the risk of injury for female athletes competing against bigger, stronger, and faster men, as is already happening in other states.
My daughter excelled in three sports in high school: lacrosse, alpine skiing, and cheerleading. She won an academic and athletic scholarship to college in lacrosse. I can only imagine how different her high school and college experiences would have been if these proposed rules had been implemented.
Elite female athletes have been an inspiration to girls around the world – see the recent example of women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark – and I am concerned that these restrictions will be a setback for girls at a crucial time for women’s sport.
These proposed amendments seek to level the playing field, but in reality they will upend it.
Because of the threats to local autonomy, student-athlete safety, and equitable participation for girls and young women in school sports, I urge the Board to reject these amendments.
Sincerely,
Pamela A. Helming
54th District Senator
