Home Schooled Students Allowed to Try Out for Sports

Home schooled students at the middle school level will be permitted to try out for sports in the DeKalb County School System.
The Board of Education gave its approval Thursday night.
“I think we’re here to support all the students of the county and I would like to see us allow home schooled students have an opportunity to try out for the school teams,” said Fourth District Board member Kate Miller.
“I’ve had an inquiry from parents who have a sixth grader who is home schooled. This student is interested in participating in athletics at DeKalb Middle School. At the high school level this is mandated by TSSAA bylaws which allow home schooled students to try out for the local public school teams. Since the middle school is not a secondary school and therefore not a member of TSSAA it is not mandated so it is left up to each individual school district to decide,” said Miller.
“I have checked with our neighboring counties and Cannon, Putnam, White, Smith, and Overton have already voted to approve this change and they are already allowing home schooled students to participate in school sports at the middle school level. Most of these counties follow the specific requirements similar to the TSSAA bylaws. Our current policy states that the bylaws of the Tennessee Secondary Athletic Association shall regulate the operation and control of athletics so technically we don’t even have to change our policy. I think if we did want to adopt this change we could make our policy more specific by referencing the TSSAA bylaws and we could make those changes in the near future,” Miller continued.
“I would like to make a motion to allow home schooled students to participate in the public school’s interscholastic athletics in the same manner as pupils who are enrolled in the public schools. Eligibility requirements for home schooled students will mirror the TSSAA bylaws,” said Miller.
Although home schooled students at the middle school level will be granted permission to try out for sports, they are not guaranteed a place on the teams. Home schooled students have to make their intentions known for trying out for a team by August 15.