Could Missouri allow homeschool students to participate in a school district’s extra-curricular activities? That’s what the state House is looking over.
Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington is proposing to let homeschool students participate in an activity offered by a charter school or school district. Brown said that parents who take on the additional burden and costs of educating their children themselves, must still pay the taxes that fund those activities like band, football, or theatre.
“Senate Bill 63, it provides that school districts will no longer prohibit a home school, full-time virtual school student, or other nontraditional educational student from participating in the athletic and extracurricular programs that are funded by their parents tax dollars,” he said.
Brown said that homeschooling could be the only alternative education option a student may have in what he calls an “underperforming school district.”
“It’s not right that a child be denied the additional enrichment and life skills that participating in youth athletics provides simply because their parents wish to take it upon themselves to ensure the quality of their children’s education,” said Brown.
His bill has eligibility requirements that the students must adhere to, such as proof of enrollment in a home or virtual school, and they must meet the same academic standards.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, supports the bill. She said it’s tough being a student athlete.
“I know when I coached, the student part was always first for me, you are a student and then you are an athlete, and it’s incredibly important that coaches keep that rigor high,” she said. “However, as I’ve learned more about this legislation and visited with home school families, I really see the benefit of having students and the more the merrier be able to participate in activities.”
Brown’s bill received unanimous support from the other 33 Missouri senators.
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