Student athletes at EHHS follow a strict guideline when it comes to their grades, but now a new state law will override our policy.
As of the 2025-2026 school year, student athletes at EHHS are placed on academic probation if they’re failing one of their classes. This policy has been in place for the last few years. The probation lasts for 22 days (half a marking period) and in that time the student athlete has to bring their grade back up from failing, otherwise they won’t be able to play their sport for the rest of the season. Student athletes are also required to maintain a C average for their grades in order to remain eligible for EHHS’s athletics.
While the current eligibility requirements at EHHS are fine and dandy, the state of Connecticut recently passed a new house bill (House Bill 5321) that will go into effect July of 2027 which completely flips the current EHHS policy on its head.
EHHS’s principal, Mr. DeNuzzo said, “Every year we only have about four or five kids per year that end up being ineligible, but once you put them on probation, they end up getting their grades up.” He believes the current eligibility requirements keep EHHS’s student athletes on top of their grades.
Mr. DeNuzzo also expressed that the goal isn’t to allow them to participate in athletics no matter what, but the goal is to make sure everyone graduates in 4 years. If student athletes only earned the minimum of 4 credits as allowed by house bill 5321, they would graduate within 4 years and would need to spend more time at EHHS.
Going into effect July 1, 2027, student athletes will now be required to earn a minimum of 4 credits by the end of the school year out of the 8 credits they can take. With the new bill, can technically fail half their classes and still play for EHHS’s athletic teams. This is a big shift away from our current policy.
2026-2027 boys soccer captain David Fenn said, “I feel like it could be stricter, but at the same time people go through their own struggles, and it’s sometimes hard outside of school to keep up.” He shared that outside of school, student athletes have to balance schoolwork, sports, social life, and sometimes work. Oftentimes on days where there’s a game or meet these student athletes often get home late and don’t have much time to work.
David spoke about the sense of urgency student athletes feel when their sport is on the line. He shared that it works as an external motivator to actually get his grades up in order to keep playing.
Sylvia Forte, a freshman student athlete here at EHHS said, “I think [the new law is] good for athletes, but like, I also think they should focus on school and get their grades up.” Sylvia believes that student athletes should be held to the same standards as students who aren’t involved in athletics or another extracurricular, however she also does understand that with games that let out late into the night, it can be hard for student athletes to balance their schoolwork with their sport.
EHHS’s track and field coach, Coach Dunne thinks the new changes don’t make too much sense. He said, “If I go to class and do most of my work I should be fine, and there’s plenty of support and extra help for all students.” He doesn’t believe there’s really no reason for any students to be failing multiple classes. He continued to say, “No, they shouldn’t be allowed to participate (in athletics) if they fail multiple classes.”
Coach Dunne believes that the probationary period of 22 days or half a marking period given to students is enough time to get their failing grades up. He shared: “Can I get a grade up in a week or two? Probably not, maybe like a month, and if I don’t improve my grade in the next 4 weeks, let’s say. Then no [and] I’m ineligible.”
Overall the changes taking effect next year have been met with mixed reviews. EHHS’s student athletes think the change is unnecessary, and that the policy of failing a class and being put on academic probation until that grade goes up is fair, and the time given is enough. EHHS coaches and administration also think the changes are unnecessary because the current eligibility requirements and standards are fine and the new ones give too much leeway for student athletes to fail their classes.
