New York bill would create separate high school sports playoffs for private schools and charters 

A New York state lawmaker is pushing legislation that would require private high schools and charters to compete in a separate playoff system from traditional public schools.

Assemblyman Matt Slater, R-Yorktown, first proposed the measure in May 2024 and reintroduced it in March 2025. It would amend state education law to create separate state championships for public and non-public schools.

The issue came into focus last December when Albany Christian Brothers Academy and Syracuse Christian Brothers Academy, both Catholic schools, played in the state’s Class AA football championship game. The matchup drew attention because the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) was initially created for public-school competition.

“It was the perfect storm,” CBA Albany athletic director Blaine Drescher told the Times-Union. His team lost the game, 41-40.

However, Drescher pushed back on the argument of private schools having an unfair advantage over public ones.

“When you look at these proposals, people use the term ‘recruiting,’ or they talk about the advantages that the private schools have,” he said. “I can tell you that we have a budget that probably is about 25% of any of the (public) schools that we participate with, day in and day out. You know, they have employees that are making more than our employees. They have coaches that are making more than our coaches. So when somebody says ‘advantage,’ that’s puzzling.”

This debate has existed for decades, NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas said.

“We have literally been talking about public schools and private schools existing within the structure of our association since, at least, the 1950s,” he said.

The issue is not unique to New York, according to Zayas.

“This is something we’re constantly faced with,” he said. “I try to keep a good idea on what’s happening nationally, so that way we can learn from what’s occurring throughout the country.”

In 2024, NYSPHSAA formed an ad hoc committee to review how “Schools Without Boundaries” – private, parochial and charter schools – should be classified.

Lansingburgh athletic director Mike Robbins said the group considered eight different proposals before narrowing them down.

Ultimately, the committee voted 10-1 in July for a plan to establish statewide criteria for reclassifying non-public and charter schools. The NYSPHSAA Executive Committee will vote in October. If approved, the change would take effect in fall 2026.

“All of the sections will use the same criteria and the same process to classify non-public schools,” Zayas said.