PIAA plan would limit athletics at charter schools

A plan that would limit athletic programs at charter schools is getting a cool reception from lawmakers.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association told a legislative panel Tuesday that many member schools claim that some charters are using their unique status to build “all-star” boys’ basketball teams that public schools can’t fairly compete against.

PIAA director Bob Lombard proposed legislation requiring charter-school students to play on public-school teams in their home districts unless the sport is offered only by the charter school and not by the public school.

Charter-school advocates strongly oppose the idea, arguing that interscholastic sports are part of the learning experience.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, who’s on the special PIAA panel, says athletics and academics are both important and that students’ interests must come first.