The 'pass to play' law governing interscholastic activities of Arizona schools

Educators and school patrons alike assume that participation in athletics motivates students to remain in and achieve in school. Over the years there has been a concerted effort to use participation in athletics as motivation for improvement of academic success. This study details the history, implementation, and effects of ARS 15-705, the "Pass to Play" law governing interscholastic activities of Arizona schools.; The "Pass to Play" law and rules to implement it is a serious attempt to make students accountable for their academic success by ruling that without passing their academic studies students may not participate in athletics. In Arizona this phenomenon is dubbed: "No pass, no play." The research question to be answered by this study is, "What has been the effect of 'pass to play' on the educational community?"; The question was answered by statistical data, cross case studies, perception of the general public toward the law, perception of the Arizona Interscholastic Association toward the law, and detailing the negative effect of the law on the educational community. The basic research approach used to answer this question was the instrumental case study as proposed by Robert Stake. Gathering data to flesh out the case studies included historical research, interviews, observations, and questionnaires.; The answers to the research question were as follows. The objective data collected by tracking student progress showed a minimal increase in GPA's. School attendance was not significantly affected, nor does there appear to be any disparate effect on minorities. The perception of students, parents, teachers, and coaches is the law has a positive effect on students' grades and attendance. Administrators do not see the law having any positive or negative impact.; The implications for leadership were centered around data gathering, assistance programs for students who are found to be ineligible, future legal challenges, and identification of at-risk students. A story is related of an at-risk student's life being altered after becoming ineligible under the law. Recommendations for action and further research included a call for an extensive state-wide impact study of the law. No such measurement has been conducted.