The following is a press release issued by the Wayland Schools:
Northeastern University issued its final report on athletics culture at Wayland High School. The report took a look at the perceptions of students (athletes and non-athletes), parents, community members, coaches and other staff members. The purpose of launching this study was to focus on the athletic program itself and on the experiences of our athletes. A strong athletic program fosters not only improved athletic skills, but positive youth development in general. Our intention is to reflect on all that we have learned from the study, to implement its recommendations, and to keep our focus on positive youth development.
This study points to high participation rates and high favorability ratings in many areas, as well as disparities between the perceptions of constituency groups. The report gives voice to a number of concerns, and each demands our attention. Most importantly, it provides a good framework to collectively build consensus and to continuously work on providing our students with programs of the highest quality. The report, like any feedback survey, is meant to foster self-improvement. None of the concerns raised should take away from the hard work of the athletes and their coaches who together put their heart and soul into Wayland athletics. We greatly appreciate the coaches’ ongoing commitment to their teams and to this process. The student athletes, our families, and our coaches are all allies in this process.
The attached Northeastern report presents its findings under the following topics:
- Equity
- Physical safety
- Psychological safety
- Physical development
- Life skills development
- Holistic support
- Motivational climate
- Coaching effectiveness
We endorse the report’s six recommendations, which we believe hold merit for any athletic program interested in its own growth and development. They are:
- Create a student-athlete advisory committee for athletics that is charged with providing feedback and insight into issues, rules, regulations, and policies that affect the experiences of student-athletes. The makeup of the committee should reflect the various stakeholders associated with Wayland High School athletics. The student-athlete advisory committee would promote opportunities for service and active student learning, while serving as a vehicle for continued positive and productive communication between student-athletes, staff, the administration and the community.
- Identify web content related to the mission and values of the athletics department. Revise and/or develop an athletics mission, purpose, and statement of core values that is in alignment with the student-centered Wayland High School Mission and the Wayland Public Schools core values. Disseminate this information to all coaches and meet with them to discuss and reflect on their role in fulfilling the mission.
- Expand opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity beyond traditional high school sport offerings. Consider creating opportunities to participate in Unified Sport, increase student-centered intramural and non-traditional sport offerings, and expand access to the school’s fitness center.
- Establish school-wide, evidence-based standards for effective coaching practice and a system of evaluation of coaches that is modeled after the 5-Step Cycle for educator evaluation established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (2015).
- Expand formal and informal professional development opportunities for coaches that include support for creating a climate in which transferable life skills are intentionally taught and positive youth development is promoted.
- Establish or consider revising existing policies and procedures relative to the following areas of concern or confusion identified through this study: practice hours, athletic activities during school vacations or weekends, cut policy, earning a varsity letter, discipline and consequences, missed practices, uniform tracking, academic standards, field use, prioritization, process for prioritizing equipment purchases, weight room/fitness facility use, user fee determination, and vetting.
Northeastern plans to issue a video presentation of its findings, which upon completion will be made available to the public for online viewing.
Should you wish to read the entire report, it is posted on the district website under “School Committee Presentations and Reports.” and it is online here
Finally, we’d like to reiterate what Northeastern stated multiple times during their public forum: no other high school in the nation has requested such a comprehensive study of its athletic program. This report, in other words, signals Wayland’s capacity for growth.
