When we first started homeschooling there was no such thing as a Tim Tebow Law. Homeschool students were not legally allowed to participate in extra curricular activities in the public schools. The law you may know is named after Tim Tebow a former homeschool student who won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and later became a professional football and baseball player. Over the last few years, several states (but not all) have adopted Tim Tebow Laws. Each state that has adopted the law has different rules and regulations. Check your own state laws to find out whether or not homeschoolers can participate. I am not an expert in the law, this is information I received from the HSLDA and Education Alliance, and by doing my own research.
In Arkansas, the law (Act 1469) was passed in 2013. It allowed students to participate in public school activities such as band or sports under some conditions. The students had to inform the school of their interest, were required to be at school no more than one class period per day (if the activity such as band or football was scheduled during the school day that counts as a class), they had to score higher then the 13th percentile in a standardized test, and participate in any try outs, drug testing, and code of conduct. The original law only allowed students to participate in the activities of the resident school district.
In 2017, HB 1474, Act 592 modified the law to allow homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular activities in any school district they choose with a few conditions. They have to wait 365 days after being approved to compete in athletic activities unless they are entering 7th grade that year. They can participate in practices but not in competitive activities. Nonathletic activities do not have a 365 day wait. Also, they have to have permission from the superintendents of both districts, the resident district, and the district they wish to participate in. You can only participate in one school district's activities.
As I mentioned above, when we started homeschooling there was no Tim Tebow Law. So what school district our house was in did not matter to me, we were homeschoolers. Our church and all of the other activities we participate in are in Nashville though we live in South Pike County district. Three of my boys started playing soccer when they were 4, but my oldest aged out of park soccer at 13. A year later, Nashville started a high school soccer team but he was not eligible to play because at that time you were only allowed to play in the district that you lived in. South Pike County does not have a team. I was VERY happy when the modification of the Tim Tebow Law was passed and he could have an opportunity to play soccer.
I started making phone calls to make sure I dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's to make this happen. I spoke to the school principal and the soccer coach to make sure they knew of Nick's interest to play. I spoke to the superintendents of both schools (both were agreeable). I met with the guidance counselor. I gave him a standardized test. I took copies of shot records and other paperwork to the school. We had a sports physical and took in the form. We attended registration and picked classes. Soccer is an after school activity and the school required him to be in class one period per day. He could choose any class at any time of the day.
The staff at the school was very, very good to us through the whole process. They were welcoming and positive about us being there. They were helpful walking me through what we needed to do and when they were not sure got got the information we needed. I am stressing this point because I have heard many negative comments about how homeschoolers have been treated by public schools. That did not happen here in our district. There have been a few homeschoolers in the district participate in band, but we were the first for sports and for sure the first from another district, so there were a few little bugs that needed to be worked out, but nothing that was a big deal. For the fall semester he took a first block class. On the first day when he tried to leave, they wanted me to come sign him out. But the office staff was notified that he was allowed to leave after first block and it was no problem. To use the computers, the students sign in with their lunch number. He didn't have one because he is not there for lunch. He was assigned a number and it was no problem. The second semester he went to a 4th block class. Because he was not there in the morning for announcements he missed the soccer meeting sign up as it was in the middle of the day when he wasn't there. A call to the coach covered what he missed at the meeting. Because he is not a full time student I did not register him for classes when the other students registered. It was not a problem they let him wait until the schedule came out and we went to the office and registered.
The one thing I disagree about the law is the 365 day waiting period for athletics. I understand there are reasons they wanted this put it, but if a child is going to attend all the practices, they should have an opportunity to play on the team without having to wait. Especially in a situation like ours when the resident district doesn't offer the activity. But, even though he was not able to play in any of the games, attending the practices was a good learning experience. He is registered for his classes this year and will have an opportunity to make the team this year. Also, the part of the law that says the superintendents have to agree. For us it is not a problem because there is a good relationship between the districts but I wonder if that is true everywhere.
I am thankful for the Tim Tebow Law and the change that allowed us to participate at a district that has soccer. Attending a class and having a chance to practice with the team was a great experience.
Does your state have a Tim Tebow law? Have you participated?
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