TSSAA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVES VALOR PROPOSAL TO AMEND BYLAWS FOR RELIGIOUS HEADWEAR WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Tennessee high school athletes no longer need to seek permission to exercise their religious freedom
NASHVILLE (Dec 10, 2020) — The TSSAA’s Legislative Council has voted to amend its bylaws to allow for religious headwear without seeking permission after it reviewed a proposal submitted by Valor Collegiate Academies.
Results from the TSSA vote from Thursday morning’s meeting minutes show unanimous approval for the approved addition to the bylaws, which go into effect immediately statewide for all TSSAA-sponsored sports.
The vote came after an incident with a Valor College Prep student on September 15, where freshman volleyball player Najah Aqeel was forbidden by a referee to participate in a game. On September 25, Valor submitted an official request to the TSSAA’s Executive Director, Bernard Childress, following the guidelines of rule change proposals in Article VII, Section 1 of the TSSAA bylaws.
The referee overseeing the game between Valor and Brentwood Academy on September 15th cited a rule from the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) casebook requiring state association approval for religious head coverings, with the rationale that it is a change in uniform that requires prior approval by TSSAA. Valor immediately began the process of proposing a change to the TSSAA and is also in conversation with the NFHS about eliminating the rule entirely for all athletes nationwide.
Speaking about the news of the vote, Todd Dickson, Valor’s Founder and CEO, said: ”This is a great forward step for all student athletes in Tennessee to be able to express their religion freely without fear of discrimination. We are so proud that an overwhelming number of TSSAA member schools across the state stood with us and voted to enact this change, and we are hopeful for the elimination of this rule nationwide.”
Aqeel was thrilled to get this news, and she shared the following statement: “I have no idea why God chose me for this mission, but I am honored to have been part of a change that will affect so many people in the world. I want to thank the TSSAA for their part in taking such a huge step in making everyone feel included in the sports arena.”
Cameron Hill, Valor’s Athletic Director, said: “This is huge for the schools in Tennessee and we hope this can lead to other state associations to adopt similar rules as well. TSSAA member schools really made a statement by overwhelmingly favoring this change and we are appreciative of the TSSAA for being open to the bylaw change. This is truly what education-based athletics is all about.”
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ABOUT VALOR COLLEGIATE ACADEMIES
Valor is a charter management organization (CMO) based in Nashville, Tennessee. We currently operate three public charter schools serving grades 5-11 with approximately 1,700 students. Our middle schools are at full growth and our high school will eventually serve approximately 900 students at scale in 2021-2022. Both Valor middle schools are among the highest performing academic schools in the State of Tennessee, and we currently have the longest charter waitlist in Nashville. Valor is committed to serving a socioeconomically diverse population that reflects the Nashville community at large. Approximately 50% of our scholars come from lower income backgrounds (as defined by qualification for free and reduced lunch). We have no racial majority within our richly racially diverse community of Hispanic/Latino, MENA (Middle Eastern North African), White, African American, and Asian scholars and families.
We envision a world where all children have equitable access to an education that prepares them to live inspired and purposeful lives. We strongly believe that engaging students – and the community that supports them – in comprehensive human development, including attending to their character development, is essential to their, and our collective success. Learn more at https://valorcollegiate.org.