All Students, Athletes Included, Are Entitled To School Choice

Hillsborough County Schools have an unworkable and arbitrary school transfer policy that is neither enforceable nor particularly fair.

But the fuss over whether student athletes should be banned from transferring - in what's been described as mini free agency - misses the bigger point about school choice.

Whether they want their children to attend the best chemistry program, the best marching band program or even the best football program, families in this county should be allowed to transfer their children to other schools, if space is available.

The current system, in which two district officials decide who may transfer, seems based more on who you know than any reasonable guidelines. Some say the system allows high school coaches to recruit star athletes, while leaving families with real hardships on the transfer sidelines.

It's interesting to note, however, that while Hillsborough coaches claim to know other coaches who have broken the transfer rules, none has the courage to report the details to the district for investigation. It's hard to have sympathy for coaches and schools unwilling to police themselves.

Tampa Tribune reporter Marilyn Brown has documented the shortcomings with transfers since Eric Dungy, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Tony Dungy, was given a coveted spot at Plant High School under the district's "hardship" policy.

Some suspect the teen simply wanted to play on Plant's football team. But the reasons the Dungys requested the transfer shouldn't even matter. That's what school choice is all about.

The problem lies with the perception that the school district is making exceptions for the rich and famous, or looks the other way when coaches and families skirt the rules to get into a school that has no room. The district says it has no ability - and apparently not much interest - in investigating transfers to a school that's above capacity.

The solution to the dysfunction isn't to place handcuffs on student athletes. The focus should be on ensuring that coaches - and district administrators - follow the rules along with everyone else.

School choice is a concept embodied in Florida law. It places the onus on schools that don't want to lose their best and brightest to improve their programs.

Bob Tebow, father of Heisman Trophy-winning University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, once told USA Today that his family "shopped" for a high school for the budding football star.

Tim Tebow started on defense at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, but because he wanted to play quarterback, his family rented an apartment in another county so he could play for a different team.

The Tebows made the right decision for their son. They were lucky that they could afford to rent an extra apartment to work the system. But not every family can afford such measures.

School choice allows families to pick the best environment for their child's talents, regardless of whether those talents are displayed in the classroom or the playing field.

Fixing the school transfer problem shouldn't start by forcing families to give up their freedom of choice.