TSSAA lays out timeline for high school sports classification that starts in 2021-22

The TSSAA plans on having new classification plans to the Board of Control by its June meetings.

A timeline released to Board of Control members earlier this week showed that the board could vote on a plan June 2-4 in Murfreesboro. The board could add or drop classes beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

The board will determine the classification system for the 2021-22 through the 2024-25 school years.

The board asked in November for information on adding at least one class in Division I basketball, baseball and softball. It also wanted to look at football and possibly dropping a class.

TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress told The Tennessean on Thursday that the board does not have to vote at the June meeting. It could hold a special-called meeting at a later date or vote at its Aug. 17 meeting.

Childress added that the June meeting dates could change with Tuesday's news that the  basketball tournaments could be played in May and Spring Fling could be in June over coronavirus concerns.

Once classification is approved, the TSSAA will seek enrollment figures from all schools as of the 20th day in school. Those numbers will be posted on tssaa.org by the last week of September.

The TSSAA will divide the schools by class and in Division I and Division II by Oct. 16. Schools will have until Oct. 26 to decide if they want to move up in classification. The association will then work on district and region alignments with the Board of Control approving on Nov. 19.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.