The NCAA News - News and Features

May 12, 1997

High schools have until May 31 to submit core-course changes

Only a few weeks remain for high schools to add courses for approval as core courses for NCAA initial-eligibility certification purposes.

High schools have until May 31 to return their 48H forms to the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse with any course title changes or, if the school has no form on file, to submit a form listing what it considers its core courses.

The NCAA Council in January established a 90-day window during which high schools could amend the list of courses in their curricula that are considered core courses for initial-eligibility purposes. Worksheets have been designed to allow input from high schools regarding why a course should qualify as a core course.

As of the end of April, 3,833 high schools had returned 48H forms for the 1997-98 academic year. About half of the forms included worksheets requesting core-course approval for additional courses.

Renewal packets were mailed to high schools in February so that all high schools would have the information in hand March 1 when the 90-day window opened. A videoconference was conducted to introduce changes in the core-course review process, clearinghouse procedures and accommodations for students with learning disabilities. High-school administrators were encouraged to tune in to the videoconference.

A step-by-step guide for completing the 48H form was included in the renewal packet along with the worksheets. The worksheets, new this year, were created to help high schools prepare the 48H forms. Worksheets are available for each core-course discipline -- English, math, natural or physical science, social sciences, and additional academic courses. A form on courses offered for students with learning disabilities also is provided.

The worksheets provide clearinghouse staff with more information about a course, such as course content, curriculum and instructional level. Within 60 days of receipt of a high school's form, the clearinghouse staff reviews it and a revised 48H form is sent to the high school listing all courses that meet the standards established by the NCAA Academic Requirements Committee.

A course not approved by the clearinghouse automatically is referred to the Academic Requirements Committee for additional review and final evaluation. The high school is sent notification that the course is being forwarded for additional review.

A postcard included in the renewal packet is to be self-addressed by the high school and returned to the clearinghouse with the 48H renewal form. The postcard is mailed to the institution as soon as the 48H form and worksheets, if applicable, are received to confirm for the high school that the form has been received at the clearinghouse.

High schools need return the form only if they have changes in courses previously listed as approved core courses, although a postcard was included in the renewal packet that high schools can use to notify the clearinghouse that they had no changes.

The current 48H renewal process is intended for the 1998 graduating class. The hope is that the core-course determinations will be made far enough in advance that high-school students will be able to make up shortcomings through summer school and their senior year.

The 90-day window and the worksheets were created to help smooth the certification process for incoming freshmen students. The Council and the Academic Requirements Committee wanted to remove core-course determinations from consideration of individual student-athletes.

With the modifications in the core-course approval process, core courses will be determined before transcripts of individual student-athletes are presented to the clearinghouse for certification. Once a decision is made on whether a course qualifies as a core course, there is no appeal. If an NCAA school seeks an initial-eligibility waiver later for a specific student, the request cannot be based on whether a course should have been considered a core course.

The clearinghouse has on file about 19,600 48H forms from high schools across the country, representing about three-fourths of the nation's high schools.