On September 10, 2013 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council argued to postpone the pay-to-participate rule for an entire year.

The main purpose of the appeal is to adequately allow families to prepare for the new pay to participate policy. The NAACP wants to expand the options of payments that are accepted, which include money, cash, check or even PayPal.

The Harford County Board of Education set the cost to $25 to participate in any extracurricular activity, and $50 for any Junior Varsity or Varsity sport. This new rule was implemented just weeks before the start of the new school year, resulting in little time to react and adapt to the new fees.

Eric Watson, a student a John Carroll High School and the vice president of the NAACP Youth Council questioned, “Why were those with parents who are certified teachers, guidance counselors or are on active military duty exempted from paying the fee?”

Students who have been actively participating in extracurricular actives in the past may not be able to participate anymore due to lack of money. This appeal is designed to give the students and or parents more time to prepare for the costs in the future.

Watson also stated, “This practice is discriminatory since many do not have online/internet access due to the digital divide, while others may not have debit or credit cards by choice or due to financial circumstances.”​

Overall, this appeal has a potential chance to increase the amount of payment options resulting in more reasonable ways to pay the fee. If passes, the appeal will give families more time to consider and adjust to the new policies.