SPRINGDALE -- Possessing the physical ability to play sports in college is only half the battle. There is also the academic side for eligibility, and the standards are getting tougher.
That's why Springdale Har-Ber has taken steps to help its student-athletes who aspire to continue their careers in college. Har-Ber was one of only 26 high schools in the country to be awarded a grant to educate high school athletes on the pathway to meeting academic standards to play college sports.
More than 130 high schools and districts applied for grants worth up to $5,000 apiece, and Har-Ber was awarded $1,300 in November for its program. Much of the credit goes to Jennifer Baker, a special education teacher at Har-Ber who submitted the winning application. Har-Ber turned to Baker to help alleviate the workload of counselors who previously provided academic help for students.
Baker, a University of Arkansas graduate from El Dorado, is now the NCAA liaison/assistant director at Har-Ber.
"We wanted to do this because the NCAA initial requirements for Division I eligibility changed this year," said Baker, who's been teaching at Har-Ber for three years. "Instead of a 2.0 grade point average, it's gone up to 2.3 for initial eligibility. I meet with parents, coaches, and student-athletes, starting many times when the students are in the ninth grade to begin monitoring their transcripts."
Not all athletes need help meeting academic requirements to play college sports. But many do, especially at schools with a diverse population and students who are trying to overcome language barriers. Players who need help at Har-Ber are sent to Baker, who meets with them in one-on-one sessions on her own time, often after school hours.
Baker also helps students in good academic standing who want to strengthen their resume for college.
"Jennifer has a heart for our student athletes," Har-Ber football coach Chris Wood said. "She focuses her efforts in making sure all student-athletes are on target with NCAA guidelines."
Baker knows what to look for after working with compliance officers at Arkansas, Mississippi State and colleges as far away as California.
"Whenever I get a kid who is referred to me by a coach, I look at when the student is scheduled to graduate and come up with a plan," Baker said. "They need to register with the NCAA when they're in the 10th grade. If a student needs special ACT testing accommodations, then we want to put it in our files to justify why a student has to have this."
Baker hopes the program will spread to other schools where student-athletes need help in getting their academic house in order to play college sports.
"This program is really in the best interest of the student-athlete," Baker said. "Where this really comes to play is with someone who might've gone to Fayetteville Ramay in ninth grade, for example. Or, we have some who went to Springdale High School then come to us as junior and seniors. I have to check with those schools to make sure they took the applicable courses. I'm hoping this can become a domino effect where we can get more schools involved to help these kids."
Sports on 02/12/2016