Education department to make changes to athletic programs

There could be sweeping changes in school athletics. The education department says students with disabilities must be given a fair shot to play on a traditional sports team or have their own leagues.

The message will be delivered to the nation's schools Friday.

Students with disabilities who want to play for their school could join traditional teams if officials could make "reasonable modifications" to accommodate them. But if those adjustments would fundamentally alter a sport or give the student an advantage, the department is directing the school to create parallel, comparable, athletic programs.