UIL Private Schools Bill Advances In State Senate

AUSTIN (AP) - A Texas Senate panel has endorsed letting private schools join the University Interscholastic League for all sports and activities except football and basketball.

Tuesday's vote by the Senate education committee sends the bill to the full Senate for consideration. The measure by Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican, is the latest effort to let private schools into the UIL, which has been rejected by lawmakers in previous years.

Public schools have resisted allowing private schools into the UIL over fears of recruiting for sports. Patrick has compared the separation to the era of racial segregation.

State law already allows two large Catholic schools, Dallas Jesuit and Houston Strake Jesuit, to compete in UIL. Dallas Jesuit won the first private school UIL state championship in boys' soccer in 2010.

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