State Representative Weaver Introduces Bill to Allow Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Athletics

State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver has introduced a bill that authorizes home-schooled students to participate in athletics in public schools if they comply with certain conditions. –
Under the bill, home-schooled students may participate in interscholastic activities at the public school to which the student would have been assigned by the local board of education, if:
(1) The student legally resides in the school district;
(2) The student’s parent or guardian complies with notice requirements for home schooling;
(3) The student’s parent or guardian applies in writing to the principal before the beginning date of the season for the activity in which the student wishes to participate;
(4) The student is at or above grade level as demonstrated by assessment testing;
(5) The student meets the same standards for acceptance in the activity as public school students; and
(6) The student meets all TSSAA eligibility requirements that are not in conflict with the provisions of this bill.
This bill prohibits any public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility to participate in interscholastic activities from participating as a home- schooled student for the duration of the year in which the student becomes ineligible and the following year. Any such student could become eligible for the third year by showing that the student is at or above grade level as demonstrated by assessment testing.
This bill prohibits any public school team or group from being impeded from competition against other schools’ teams merely because the school’s team has home-schooled students participating.