A potentially monumental day for Alabama high school athletics is here.
After much speculation about a potential separation between public and private schools for athletics, the Alabama High School Athletic Association is set to release its biennial reclassification following a meeting this morning at 9 a.m. in Montgomery.
AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon will hold a press conference at from the AHSAA headquarters in Montgomery before a reveal show of the updated reclassification; both will be streamed over the AHSAA TV Network.
Following the stream, the complete reclassification and fall sports alignments will be posted to the AHSAA website.
The reclassification was supposed to be released in December, but the AHSAA was met with mediation surrounding the 2024 CHOOSE Act and what it means for the eligibility of students who accept the $7,000 to transfer to private schools.
RELATED: Coaches weigh in on AHSAA reclassification: Do what is best for all student-athletes
Reclassification is near, what will it look like?
“I think the question you might want to ask yourself if you are a child or parent in a public school seeking opportunities at the next level is, ‘Don’t you want your child to play against the best competition?’” Bayside Academy head of school Scott Phillipps recently told AL.com. “There is no doubt that separating public and private schools will dilute the competition for both. I think it’s probably inevitable they separate us, because I think that is the way the political winds are blowing.”
AL.com surveyed coaches ahead of the reclassification announcement for their thoughts on a potential split, with 43 percent hoping there is no division between public and private schools.
According to AL.com’s survey, 31 percent of coaches who responded believe private and public schools should be separate for championship play. Other options included adjusting the multiplier or competitive balance (19 percent), with just seven percent believing private and public schools should be completely separated.