November 1st, 2024 by WCBC Radio
On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Fort Hill High School received an anonymous report that a Fort Hill football player was ineligible because the student is not a resident of Allegany County. ACPS immediately launched an investigation into the matter. In the course of the investigation, ACPS ultimately determined that the student in question was in fact residing in another state while attending Fort Hill High School. The investigation revealed that the enrollment information provided to the Fort Hill administration contained fraudulent information. The investigation did not reveal any wrongdoing or lack of diligence by the Fort Hill administration or football coaching staff.
Following the completion of this investigation, ACPS promptly contacted the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) to report an eligibility violation as required by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.06.03.05. That regulation requires a school to forfeit all games in which an ineligible player has participated.
As this issue was discovered prior to the Fort Hill versus Allegany Homecoming Game, the outcome of that game will not be impacted. The Fort Hill football team also remains eligible to participate in the State playoff tournament; however, its record may be adjusted by the MPSSAA to reflect the forfeited games. Fort Hill High School is appealing the imposed penalty and will receive a hearing before the MPSSAA Appeals Committee.
Out of state and out of county students can be considered for enrollment in ACPS by submitting a request in writing to ACPS. ACPS considers the application based on three criteria contained in ACPS Policy Regulation JC-R:
A. Problems associated with relocation of family residence where the student wishes to continue a previous enrollment in Allegany County.
B. Problems associated with the transfer of authority over a student by a change of parent or guardianship.
C. Student’s parents have the means and agree in writing to pay full tuition.
Because the student in question posed as an Allegany County resident, no such application was made.
As this involves a student, neither ACPS nor Fort Hill High School can provide any further comment or information on this matter as student information is protected by federal law.
