As Illinois has made steady progress moving out of COVID-19 mitigations, thousands of students of all ages are back enjoying the previously prohibited extracurricular activities that they love.

We have learned from conversations with school officials involved with the planning and execution of hosting extracurricular activities that there have not been major viral outbreaks resulting from allowing previously prohibited extracurricular activities. Despite this, extracurricular school events, whether indoor or outdoor, are being limited to an attendance capacity of 50 people even if facilities can safely accommodate much more while adhering to mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines according to IDPH and CDC standards to greatly limit the spread of COVID-19.

The restrictions are causing problems for participants, athletes, cheerleaders, fans, and school officials. Not to mention students, parents and siblings who have missed out on memories too many to count, and too precious to ignore.

We believe that grade school, junior high, and high school extracurricular events should be allowed to have attendance at 25% capacity going forward. Officials from the Illinois High School Association, the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of Athletic Directors, and Illinois Principals Association as well as local school board officials, parents, coaches, players, and school administrators from across the state agree.