Regents Academy Public Statement Regarding SB 1214 (UIL bill)

Regents Academy is encouraged at the prospect of allowing private and parochial school students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) extracurricular contests through the enactment of legislation such as Senate Bill 1214.  Since 1909, the UIL has been a highly respected association providing opportunities for students to participate in a wide range of competitive events.  Regents Academy believes that opening up these competitive opportunities to a larger group of Texas students, who would otherwise have limited access to similar contests, would be a positive change benefiting Texas students.

As a private school, Regents Academy has been fortunate to be able to offer its students the ability to participate in a broad range of extracurricular competitive opportunities through organizations similar to UIL including TAPPS and CSAC. TAPPS (the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) provides opportunities for high school students in private and/or parochial schools to compete in academic, athletic, art and music contests. Additionally, Regents Academy middle school students compete in various sports events via the 25-member Christian Schools Athletic Conference (CSAC). We have been pleased with the role TAPPS and CSAC have played in the extracurricular lives of our students as our students have enjoyed much success through both organizations.

Only last week at the TAPPS State Track and Field Championships held at Baylor University in Waco, Regents Academy had three student-athletes score in five  events and place in the top six spots, with one student placing 2nd in her event. Additionally, Regents Academy is a past state champion in the TAPPS 2A Division for Speech and Academics, and the boys’ high school basketball team qualified for its first TAPPS State Basketball tournament earlier this year. Regents Academy is very pleased with its affiliation with both TAPPS and CSAC.

Regents Academy continues to work with the TEA-recognized Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS) to finalize its application for accreditation. Once completed, Regents Academy will be qualified to reconsider which extracurricular association is best for its students, whether that will be TAPPS, CSAC, and/or UIL. Until the UIL/private school initiative currently known as SB 1214 becomes law, it is premature for Regents Academy to offer additional comment on this pending legislation.