PORTLAND, Maine - The Portland school board has rescinded a new policy that would have required students to behave in class in order to be eligible for sports and other extracurricular activities.
The Portland Press Herald reports that Superintendent Xavier Botana asked board members to reverse their decision during a meeting Tuesday. Portland's old eligibility standard, which doesn't consider behavior, was restored after a unanimous vote.
Botana says Portland schools aren't ready to implement the new policy. The new standard would have required students to be polite, turn homework in on time and come prepared for class in order to participate in extracurricular activities.
Botana says delaying the policy will give the district time to study the idea to ensure the policy's applied fairly. Officials will talk with coaches, students and parents.