Paul Sarlo backs NJ bill targeting middle school 'red-shirting'

New Jersey Senator Paul Sarlo has endorsed a legislative bill aimed at curbing the practice of middle school "red-shirting" for athletic purposes. The bill, sponsored by Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), seeks to limit the eligibility of students who repeat sixth, seventh, or eighth grade to six semesters of high school athletics, or three years.

Sarlo expressed concern about the issue, stating that he had received reports of kids in his district being red-shirted. He emphasized that students should not be taking gap years without academic accountability. Sarlo's support for the bill comes after a similar proposal by Senator Richard Codey in 2015, which stalled in the Assembly.

The proposed legislation draws from the language of the 2015 bill, stipulating that students who hold back in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade would only be eligible for six semesters of high school athletics when they first enroll. Sarlo believes it is crucial to highlight this issue to demonstrate its impact on students' education.

While the exact prevalence of this practice is unclear, North Jersey is home to two notable gap-year enrichment schools: Parisi Academy in Fair Lawn and The Prep in Oakland. The NJSIAA is also grappling with legal considerations related to the potential creation of regulations protecting independent contractors, such as Amazon drivers and delivery workers. However, organizations representing high school sports officials are wary of being grouped under these regulations due to the nature of their employment.

Sarlo also mentioned that the Department of Labor has reached out to him regarding the possibility of setting up a meeting with the Department's Executive Director to ensure that high school referees and officials are not subject to these regulations. The NJSIAA recently approved 11 high school sports co-ops for the upcoming winter season, including Butler/Pompton Lakes/Kinnelon (girls wrestling) and Wall/Keansburg/Henry Hudson (boys ice hockey).