Imagine being in your final year of high school, filled with dreams of playing varsity sports and cherishing memories with your friends, only to be told that you cannot participate. This unfortunate situation is a reality for my daughters, Jordin and Jada. Both talented athletes, they have been deemed ineligible to join varsity sports for their senior year simply because we were forced to move due to financial and medical hardships. As a single mom, this move was not a choice but a necessity.

The current rules in place are unfairly punishing students with unstable housing situations, financial difficulties, or medical needs by denying them participation in sports and extracurricular activities. These rules fail to account for the real-life challenges some families face. They require students, particularly seniors, to sit out for an entire year to regain eligibility, a time frame that seniors simply do not have.

We must come together to change these outdated and unjust guidelines that inadvertently punish students for circumstances beyond their control. No student should have their opportunities and dreams taken away because of situations that cannot be helped. Sports and extracurricular activities play a crucial role in a balanced education, fostering teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

It's time for educational boards and school districts to recognize these challenges and amend the policies to reflect the diverse and dynamic realities students face today. Seniors, especially, should be a protected class, and only high-risk areas such as poor behavior and low academic performance should factor into ineligibility determinations.

By signing this petition, we advocate for school districts and the Georgia High School Association to revise their eligibility requirements, ensuring that no student, including seniors like Jordin and Jada, is unfairly denied the opportunity to participate in school sports and activities due to their living situations or multiple moves. Let's give all students the chance to thrive and make the most of their high school experience.

Please sign this petition to demand a fair and equitable system for all students. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of students impacted by these rules.