Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes home-schooled students to participate in public school athletics, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a student who is instructed by a private tutor, private school, or church school to participate in “extracurricular activities” at public schools and certain nonpublic schools (Sec. 1).

• Defines “extracurricular activities” as all athletic programs of the school for individuals or team sports (Sec. 1).

• Requires a student who is instructed by a private tutor, private school, or church school to meet the following criteria prior to participating in extracurricular activities (Sec. 1):
• The student must register an intention to participate with the public school;
• The student must pay any participation fees that the school’s students pay;
• The student must adhere to the same code of conduct as the school’s students; and
• The student must satisfy the same residency requirements as the school’s students.

• Requires a student who is instructed by a private tutor, private school, or church school to meet the same academic standards as public school participants as measured by any of the following indicators (Sec. 1):
• The student’s tutor provides “appropriate” documentation to the school;
• The student’s results on a nationally-recognized standardized test; or
• The student’s portfolio of the previous year’s school work demonstrating his or her proficiency appropriate for his or her grade level.

• Prohibits a student who is instructed by a private tutor, private school, or church school from participating in extracurricular activities with more than 1 school in a school year (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill apply beginning in the seventh grade (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility for extracurricular activities is ineligible to participate under the provisions of this bill unless he or she satisfies eligibility standards equivalent to those imposed on other students (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a public school athletic team that utilizes a student according to the provisions of this bill from being impeded from competing against another school (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a student is not guaranteed to make a team for which he or she tries out (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text