Tim Tebow Act; allow homeschooled children to participate in extracurricular activity within their school district.
If enacted, SB 2813 would establish a framework whereby homeschooled students can join public school extracurricular programs, equalizing the opportunities available to them compared to their peers in traditional public education settings. Furthermore, the Mississippi Department of Education would create a 'Homeschool Extracurricular Activity Fund' to support such participation financially, allocating $2,250 per homeschooled student who participated in the previous year's activities. This funding is designed to incentivize school districts to accept homeschooled students into their athletic programs.
Senate Bill 2813, known as the Tim Tebow Act, seeks to authorize homeschooled students to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities of the public school they would otherwise be assigned to according to district attendance policies. This bill specifies that transportation responsibilities fall to the parent, guardian, or student. The aim is to integrate homeschooled students into public school sports and activities, thereby expanding their opportunities for social engagement and athletic participation.
Notable points of contention with the bill include debates on the implications for existing public school programs, funding fairness, and concerns over the potential loss of resources for regular public school students. Critics may argue that opening these activities to homeschooled students could divert financial resources from programs that primarily serve public school attendees. Additionally, the act clarifies that participation is a privilege, not a right, which may lead to concerns about equitable access for all students. The bill also limits any regulatory authority over homeschooling, which could restrict how schools manage their extracurricular rosters and tryouts.
The bill stipulates that public schools must not discriminate against homeschooled students when selecting team members and that these students must adhere to the same standards of conduct and academic performance as their public school counterparts. Schools are required to report their disbursements from the special fund to maintain transparency and ensure that resources are distributed appropriately to support homeschooled students engaged in public school activities.