U.S. pushes for ban on low-grade schools

The American Secretary of Education wants schools with low graduation rates to be banned from the NCAA basketball tournament.

Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education proposed a novel concept, banning any school with a graduation less than 40% from playing in postseason play. If Duncan got his way top-seeded Kentucky would have been banned from post season play this year. It would have affected a dozen teams in the NCAA tournament this year. According to Duncan that 40% isn't a very high bar either. Duncan sat down with USA Today's, Erik Brady and his article was on the front page Section C, the sports section. This year the teams in the Men's Tournament with graduation rates of less than 40% would include: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (29%) Baylor (36%) California (20%) Clemson (37%) Georgia Tech (38%) Kentucky (31%) Louisville (38%) Maryland (8%) Missouri (36%) New Mexico State (36%) Tennessee (30%) Washington (29%) The rates come from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida The NCAA also uses a formula called APR (Academic Progress Rate), which is meant to measure school success in retaining athletes, keeping them eligible and graduating their athletes. Duncan is a huge advocate for reform in regards to performance by school's athletes. The NCAA has established a minimum of 925 for the APR or they are subject to penalties. In this year's Men's Tournament there were 18 teams that were below the 925 mark compared to just five teams in the Women's Tournament. There were just three teams; Hampton (39%), Lamar (35%), Southern (29%) with APRs under 40%. The entire USA Today article can be found at their website: [url=http://www.usatoday.com]www.usatoday.com