Virginia students who are home-schooled may be granted an opportunity to play on public school sports teams under legislation being considered by a special House of Delegates education panel. Home-schooled students have at least some access to public school sports in 22 states.
Several students told lawmakers that they don’t want quotas but a chance to try out. Bill sponsor Delegate Rob Bell agreed that the public schools should offer equal access and opportunity.
“Sports teaches teamwork, fitness, and leadership. High school sports, in particular, can be an avenue to college. It can provide scholarships to students who are athletes. In rural areas, it is literally the only game in town,” he said.
The Virginia High School League sets general rules for sports eligibility. Both the League and Delegate Jennifer McClellan said the bill does not guarantee that home-schooled students would adhere to the same behavioral and academic qualifications:
“You keep talking about a level playing field. And we want a level playing field, too. But we want a level playing field where the home-school student doesn’t have an advantage over the public school student because they’re not held to the same standard,” she said.
For example, home-schooled students cannot take the Standards of Learning tests. But Bell said the state has approved other accredited tests for the students, so they should not be penalized.
–Anne Marie Morgan
Virginia Public Radio 