Tennessee Public School Sports Open To Home-Schoolers

The Tullahoma News

http://www.tullahomanews.com/?p=15324

When Tullahoma City Schools athletes hit the gridirons, gyms, tracks, tennis courts and diamonds next academic year, they will be seeing new faces on their teams due to a new state law that allows home-schooled athletes to participate in public school programs.

Gov. Bill Haslam signed the legislation recently after the Senate approved the measure 32-0 with the House concurring in a 69-24 vote. Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, and Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, each supported the law change.

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletics Association made the statewide policy change several years ago that public school systems could allow home-schooled students to participate in city school athletic programs. However, it was up to local school boards to determine whether they wanted to change their own policies to accommodate home-schooled athletes.

In Tullahoma’s case, the proposed policy change requested by home-schooled students’ parents in February 2011 did not receive support from any city Board of Education member and the issue had died.

With the state government’s action to change the law, school systems are now required to let home-schooled athletes participate in city school athletic programs — an issue that has drawn praise from supporters and concern from those in opposition.