No Pass No Play

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No Pass No Play is a term denoting a Texan public education policy. Under No Pass No Play a student must pass all his or her school courses to be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities such as athletics or music.

[edit] History

In 1983, Governor White appointed Dallas businessman Ross Perot to head up a commission to study public education reform in Texas. As a result of the study "No Pass No Play" was enacted as part of a series of reforms included in House Bill 72, which was enacted by the Texas Legislature and took effect in 1984 under the direction of then-Governor Mark White.

The No Pass No Play rule stipulates that Texas public school students who participate in extracurricular activities must achieve a passing grade (a 70 or higher) each six-week grading period in order to qualify to continue participating in such activities. If a student receives at least one failing grade on his or her report card during a given six-week grading period, that student is forbidden or ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities until the failing grade or grades have been improved to passing levels. No Pass No Play affects all students involved in extracurricular activities equally in all school districts. Some other states have followed Texas' example by instituting their own versions of No Pass No Play in order to improve student academic performance.