OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — FOX 25 received a statement from the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) President, David Jackson, after a judge struck down Rule 14, which forces private schools to move up in class size based on athletic success.

For more than two years, the OSSAA has been involved in litigation concerning Rule 14. On Friday, the judge granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. Under the ruling, the portion of Rule 14 that outlines how schools are moved up in classification can no longer be enforced. If the ruling stands, school classifications would be determined solely by Average Daily Membership (ADM).

This ruling is not yet final. The plaintiffs are required to submit a proposed order to the court in the coming days. If the proposed order accurately reflects the judge’s ruling, the matter may be resolved. OSSAA legal counsel is currently communicating with the plaintiffs’ attorney to determine what language will be included in the proposed final order. If the case is concluded, the OSSAA will begin developing a new classification plan that addresses several concerns not covered by the current system.

ORIGINAL: An Oklahoma County judge has struck down an Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association rule that forces private schools to move up in class size based on athletic success.

In 2023, a group of private schools, including Bishop McGuinness and Heritage Hall, sued the OSSAA over Rule 14.

Typically, class sizes for athletics are determined by a school’s “average daily membership”, which is the average number of students who attend a school each day.

However, the OSSAA created Rule 14 to elevate private schools to higher athletic classifications based on post-season success. The OSSAA created the rule to bring a competitive balance between public and private school sports.

Last year, Bishop McGuinness competed in Class 5A. According to ADM numbers from 2024, Bishop McGuinness had about 700 students attending its school. Despite that, Bishop McGuinness made it all the way to the 5A state championship game in football last year.

Carl Albert, the school that beat Bishop McGuinness 48-7 in the state championship, had an ADM number of 1,097 students in 2024.

Bishop McGuinness only lost two games last season, one against a district rival. The other loss came from the state championship game.

Lincoln Christian, a school not involved in the OSSAA lawsuit, bulldozed its opponents in Class 3A last season. Most teams didn’t score any points against Lincoln Christian, with Lincoln Christian dishing out 7 shutouts in the regular season and 2 shutouts in the playoffs. Nine of Lincoln Christian’s fourteen games were shutouts.

Lincoln Christian went undefeated and won its thirdstraight state championship in December.