Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation to allow home-schooled children to participate in sports and other extracurricular programs. | Dreamstime
Children who are home-schooled in several states have not been allowed to participate in public school extracurricular activities such as athletics and music, but lawmakers in several states are aiming to end that prohibition.
In Texas, Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney) introduced SB 491 and Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) introduced the House version, HB 547, which would allow home-schooled children to participate in University Interscholastic League extracurricular programs through their local public school.
UIL, the main league in the state which hosts extracurricular activities, currently prohibits children who are home-schooled from taking part in the programs. UIL includes sports such as football, basketball and baseball and other activities including music, debate team and chess. Children who are home-schooled are banned from participating in these programs.
The Texas Home School Coalition believes these children deserve to participate in UIL programs, as the families of these children pay taxes which support the programs.
The coalition indicates on its website that approximately 22% to 32% of home-school families reside in rural areas and extracurricular options are either non-existent or the options are limited. In addition, the cost for participating in those programs that are available are too expensive. UIL programs, they argue, should be available to home-schooled children as their parents' taxes support the programs.
The UIL Equal Access Bill, referred to as the Tim Tebow Bill, is supported by the coalition.
As Sportscasting reported, the Tim Tebow Bill has been passed or introduced in many state legislatures. Florida passed legislation in 1996 to allow home-schooled children to participate in extracurricular public school activities. Since then, 28 states followed with legislation and 15 states have proposed legislation. In total, 35 states allow home-school families to participate in public school programs, according to THSC.
Other states are in the process of trying to pass Tim Tebow bills. Support for legislation in West Virginia has been voiced, although Gov. Jim Justice failed to sign the bill in to law in 2017 after both chambers of the legislature approved the bill, the Times-West Virginian reported.
In Nebraska, home-schooled children are also asking to participate in public school activities, and Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil introduced LB 210 that would allow them to participate, the Lincoln Star Journal reported. Murman said the bill will allow home-schooled children in the state, a number that has grown in recent years, to have more opportunities.
"All students, regardless of school choice, should have this opportunity without unnecessary requirement," Murman told the Lincoln Star Journal. "A person's lawful method of education should not preclude any student from involvement in extracurricular activities within the school district in which they reside and pay taxes."
Alerts Sign-up