The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) has received a letter from the Kentucky Board of Education (KDE) chair Lu Young, asking the Board of Control to meet and address expanding COVID-19 guidelines for student-athletes.
High school sports is set to begin next Monday.
Here are the actions wanted by the KDE:
- Develop new guidance for school districts on the responsibility and authority to enforce the protocols set forth in the recent KSHAA guidance document.
- Anticipate and clarify how KHSAA guidance is likely to evolve and put forth clear and actionable guidance on how KHSAA will respond to a spike in cases at the school, district, regional, and/or statewide level.
- Provide immediate guidance to school districts and coaches on spectator attendance at practices and competition.
- Develop clear guidance to school districts and coaches on how to best provide resources and mental health support to student-athletes who are unable to play due to parent choice, COVID-19 quarantine, program suspension due to COVID-19, or other reasons.
- Require that the risks of COVID-19 be disclosed to families and students in a manner that is easily understood, along with recommended steps for student “return to sports” following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Take steps, including but not limited to instructing KHSAA to work with KDE and the Department for Public Health, to develop model COVID-19 testing protocols for student-athletes and coaches that could be replicated across the state.
- Adopt a regular reporting schedule for the Board of Control and the KBE/KDE to receive written reports, not less than bi-weekly, from the KHSAA that summarizes COVID-related issues KHSAA is dealing with (by sport, district, and school) and how concerns are addressed as they arise.