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Minnesota Agencies

Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

State High School League

Also known as:
MSHSL
Minnesota State High School League
Active dates:1916-
Authority:
Minn. Stat. 128C.01
1989 Minn. Laws Chap. 220
1973 Minn. Laws Chap. 738
Function:

Supervises and regulates interscholastic athletics, and musical, dramatic, and other contests between pupils of Minnesota high schools.

History:

The Minnesota State High School League was first organized in 1916 as the State High School Athletic Association. Its primary purposes were (1) to promote amateur sports and (2) to establish uniform eligibility rules for interscholastic contests.

In 1929 MSHSL broadened its scope by including all interscholastic athletic activities and added speech and debate. At that time the name was changed to the Minnesota State High School League. Music was added in 1965 and Girls Athletics in 1969.

The League has existed as a nonprofit, voluntary association of the public high schools since its inception. In 1960 it was officially incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, filing with MN Secretary of State on May 27, 1960.

A high school that is a school under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, may be a member of the league. The league is made up of high schools whose governing boards have delegated their control of extracurricular activities, as described in section 123B.49, subdivision 4, to the league. The delegation is made when the governing board files a certificate of delegation with the commissioner of education.

In 2023, the Legislature increased membership of the governing board from 20 to 22.
Membership:

As of 2023, the board is composed of 22 members. Sixteen members are selected according to the league's constitution, four members are appointed by the governor, and two members are appointed from among the membership of the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals.

Entries for this agency in the Annual Compilation and Statistical Report of Multi-Member Agencies Report: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988.

Note: This report provides membership details as well as meeting information and a summary of the group's activities.

Agency heads:

Chairman of the committee that formed the State High School League: Harry C. Bell, 1916-1927

Executive Directors: Otto Smith, 1928-1942; Harold Peterson, 1942-1958; Beverly Hill, 1959-1970; Murrae Freng, 1970-1985; Orv Bies, 1985-1988; David Stead, 1988-?; Erich Martens, ?-present
Internet resource:
Minnesota State High School League Bulletin, Winter 2016 (contains an article about the Executive Directors through 100 years of service)
MN State High School League
History of the Minnesota State High School League
Board of Directors
MSHSL Staff
Reports:
Minnesota State High School League Annual Financial Report (1998/1999 - )
Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
Documents/Articles:
Letter to Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League from Minnesota school board members requesting Title IX compliance, October 2025.
Forest Lake schools presses state leaders to follow federal order on trans athletes. St. Paul Pioneer Press, 10/7/2025.
Feds find Minnesota in violation of Title IX over trans athletes. Minnesota Reformer, 9/30/2025.
Noncompliance Finding letter from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota State High School League, and the Minnesota Attorney General, 9/30/2025.
Federal court hears arguments in lawsuit over Minnesota high school transgender athlete policy. Star Tribune, 8/21/2025.
How Minnesota became a national leader in adapted sports for high school students. Star Tribune, 8/10/2025.
Minnesota State High School League contract renewals prompt questions about transgender athletes. Star Tribune, 7/21/2025.
Feds unveil new investigation over Minnesota's transgender athlete policy. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), 6/27/2025.
Minnesota softball players sue Keith Ellison, state high school league over transgender athlete policy. Star Tribune, 5/21/2025.
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1985-2016.
Record last updated: 07/02/2025
 

Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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