Competitive Equity Factor

Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors votes in new guidelines for classifying non-public athletic teams.

The Competitive Equity Factor for classifying non-public schools was approved on the first day of its annual workshop by the Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors.

The Competitive Equity Factor utilizes a formula for determining if a non-public school has been overly competitive in its sport in its assigned classification over a four-year span and elevates that school for that particular sport only up an additional classification for the next two-year reclassification cycle.

The Competitive Equity Factor was passed by a count of 157 for and 28 against. It was created as a means to level the playing field between public and non-public schools after concerns were raised about the disproportionate number of state championships won by non-public schools.

Non-public schools, or private schools, are already elevated one classification. The Competitive Equity Factor could elevate a school one additional classification for earning 10 competitive balance points over the four-year span, which includes:
4 -- state championship
3 -- runner-up in a state championship game
2 -- playoff victory
1 -- winning conference record

The maximum number of points a team can earn in a season is four. For example, Pulaski Academy's football team has already accumulated 11 points over the past three seasons with two state championships and a runner-up. This season's total will be added, but the team already has enough to be elevated another classification for the next two-year cycle.

Teams can also be dropped a classification for earning two points or less.

The Competitive Equity Factor will begin for the 2022 school year.

The implementation of the Competitive Equity Factor likely concludes the hearing of House Bill 1097, which was filed in January that called for the Arkansas Activities Association to create either two separate conference systems or playoff and state tournament systems for public schools and private schools.

The lead sponsor of House Bill 1097 was Jim Wooten, a republican Representative from Beebe.

As far as team sports, private schools won the following state championships during the 2020-2021 school year:
Football – Pulaski Academy (5A), Shiloh Christian (4A), and Harding Academy (3A)
Basketball, boys – Harding Academy (3A)
Baseball – Harding Academy (3A)
Softball – Baptist Prep (3A)
Soccer, girls – Pulaski Academy (4A), and Harding Academy (3A)
In addition, Little Rock Christian played in the Class 5A football championship game, Sacred Heart played in the Class 1A softball championship game, Harding Academy played in the Class 3A boys soccer championship game. No private schools appeared in state championship games in girls basketball or volleyball.

Other states, including Alabama, Ohio and Pennsylvania have similar rules in place concerning success factors and competitive balance between public and private schools.

The Arkansas Activities Association is the governing body of high school athletics and activities in the state.