In California, the governor is weighing a proposal that could create a state law classifying cheerleading as a competitive high school sport. The bill, which was authored by Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), aims to bring the state into compliance with Title IX by requiring the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to develop guidelines and safety standards by no later than July 1, 2017.

Though the CIF stands in support of the bill, general response to the legislation is a bit guarded.

Proponents of the value of athletics and co-curricular activities in the public school system often use the term Education-based.  Just what does that mean and what does it compare to?  Bob Garnder, the Executive Director of the National Federal of High School Associations (NFHS), the rule making organization for high school sports, made that definition a bit more finite in a recent article for High School Today.