Lawrence school board considering adding esports as official school activity

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) – Lawrence Public Schools wants to join the inaugural season of state-sanctioned esports this fall.

Esports, a term used for competitive video gaming, has become hot enough that colleges offer scholarships to play on varsity teams, but that’s not the piece of a presentation to the school board Monday night that was most compelling for several school board members. It was the sense of school belonging.

“When we look at districts across the nation whose activities associations have opened up eSports, 47% of the students who participated in those other states in esports, it was the first time those students had ever participated in a school activity,” said Deputy Superintendent Larry Englebrick, “the first time they truly began to make that positive connection with their school outside of the classroom.”

The board heard from two students who played esports at the club level for Lawrence Virtual School about what it means for them.

Travis Matthews graduated in 2025 and played on their Rocket League team.

“Esports kind of got me through high school. It kept me passing classes,” Matthews said. “Our players look forward to playing every year. It keeps them motivated, keeps them hungry.”

Eighth-grader Eli May competes on an electronic chess team.

“I’m not really athletic or have great hand-eye coordination,” May told the board, “but esports really lets me be part of a team.”

KSHAA APPROVED FOR 2025-2026

The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA) recently sanctioned eSports as an official interscholastic activity beginning this school year. A news release indicates it would have academic eligibility requirements similar to those in traditional athletics and activities.

KSHAA spokesman Jeremy Holaday said it’s a go if they get 24 schools signed up by Oct. 7.

“Indications at this time are showing we will certainly have more than 24,” he said in an email prior to the Aug. 25 Lawrence school board meeting. “We have 20 as of this morning. We had an introductory webinar last Thursday that 60 schools attended.”

RISING POPULARITY OF ESPORTS

Esports are no joke. There are arena-style competitions. In 2022, Bartle Hall hosted the global Halo Championship Series with more than a quarter million dollars in prize money up for grabs.

In 2019, KCTV5 reported on scholarships being offered by Park University. KU has five varsity teams in a conference of nine colleges. Mizzou launched its esports program in 2019 and has a 5,000 square-foot training facility. The nationwide list of colleges offering varsity esports programs is in the hundreds.

COST TO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Many school board members praised the idea, some referring to their own kids. Some said they worried at first about the increased screen time, but now understand the value of building relationships. Players in official school clubs sit together in person as a team when they play.

With that comes one of the concerns raised by some board members: the price tag.

Englebrick said they would need to purchase Nintendo Switch consoles, controllers and headsets so that all students have the same equipment. The schools would have to pay for licensing fees, though the first year would be free. Coaching would come from existing staff who would get a stipend, like those who lead other school activities. He estimated there was room in existing classrooms or computer labs for practice space.

He did not provide itemized dollar amounts. He indicated he would return with specifics on the cost and suggestions on what portion of the budget it would come from.

Monday night’s agenda item was the first of what the board expects will be several discussions before voting.

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