Some Virginia students who are home-schooled may be able to participate in public school interscholastic programs under legislation that has passed both houses of the General Assembly. Lawmakers also sought to alleviate some concerns raised by school divisions.
The bill allows home-educated students to participate in programs such as sports or debate tournaments if they comply with certain conditions. It does so by prohibiting public schools from joining an organization, such as the Virginia High School League, that prohibits homeschoolers from participating. But the Senate passed Senator Tom Garrett’s amendment clarifying that schools WON’T be mandated to include homeschoolers on their teams.
“It very explicitly spells out that this would be a local opt-in. And I believe there are about seven localities across the Commonwealth that have indicated a desire to do so. There may well be, as was characterized to me by someone who I have a great respect for, over a hundred who don’t choose to. But what this bill does now with this amendment is make it abundantly clear that a local school board would have to opt-in to the allowing of participation by home-educated students.”
The bill now goes back to the House, which will likely accept the amendment.
