b0013 wrote:This is a good subject posted on the girls site, one I have not seen on the forums before....I do not have a home school student, but I am interested to see the comments.

I'm guessing home school students are not allowed to play HS sports with the students local school?

Is this a school district by school district issue or UIL issue?

Why or why not should a home school student be allowed to play HS sports...?

No, UIL, and because they are not enrolled in that school

cornerkick96 wrote:

b0013 wrote:This is a good subject posted on the girls site, one I have not seen on the forums before....I do not have a home school student, but I am interested to see the comments.

I'm guessing home school students are not allowed to play HS sports with the students local school?

Is this a school district by school district issue or UIL issue?


Why or why not should a home school student be allowed to play HS sports...?

No, UIL, and because they are not enrolled in that school

They have soccer & basketball teams that play non-league games in TAPPS.

Hmm...I wonder what Jesuit would do if this rule were not in place

Not at all true. The UIL will tell you that is the case and they are lying. I know a coach that had home schoolers in Houston. There is alot of paperwork and tests but it is possible. The UIL has lost this battle in court but will tell you it is not allowed. It is a district by district choice. You won't find one in NTX that will allow it.
The BB teams play in all kinds of preseason tournaments that include TAPPS and public schools. They then have their own league play and national tournament in OK city.

my2cents wrote:Not at all true. The UIL will tell you that is the case and they are lying. I know a coach that had home schoolers in Houston. There is alot of paperwork and tests but it is possible. The UIL has lost this battle in court but will tell you it is not allowed. It is a district by district choice. You won't find one in NTX that will allow it.
The BB teams play in all kinds of preseason tournaments that include TAPPS and public schools. They then have their own league play and national tournament in OK city.

It is true that home schoolers have played on their own teams, but the question was can they play for their local school that they are not enrolled in. The answer is no.
Why should someone be allowed to play for a school they are not even enrolled in? I'm all for home-schooling for those who feel that is the best way to go - more power to them. But should kids that are not even enrolled in a particular school be allowed to represent that school in extra-curricular activities? Please.

cornerkick96 wrote:

my2cents wrote:Not at all true. The UIL will tell you that is the case and they are lying. I know a coach that had home schoolers in Houston. There is alot of paperwork and tests but it is possible. The UIL has lost this battle in court but will tell you it is not allowed. It is a district by district choice. You won't find one in NTX that will allow it.
The BB teams play in all kinds of preseason tournaments that include TAPPS and public schools. They then have their own league play and national tournament in OK city.

It is true that home schoolers have played on their own teams, but the question was can they play for their local school that they are not enrolled in. The answer is no.
Why should someone be allowed to play for a school they are not even enrolled in? I'm all for home-schooling for those who feel that is the best way to go - more power to them. But should kids that are not even enrolled in a particular school be allowed to represent that school in extra-curricular activities? Please.

Well, I can imagine how hard it is to come up with a team if you're home-schooled. Who can you get to play with you, your brother and sisters? I think they should come up with a solution to integrate the home-schooled children. It's great if you can home school, but I feel they need to be socially integrated, and sports would be a great way. I am sure the parents are paying taxes to support the school within their district, whether or not they actually attend. So, in that regard, alone, I think they should be allowed to play. Also, I think it would help the home-schooled kids acquire some form of socializing skills.

Ibystander wrote:Well, I can imagine how hard it is to come up with a team if you're home-schooled. Who can you get to play with you, your brother and sisters? I think they should come up with a solution to integrate the home-schooled children. It's great if you can home school, but I feel they need to be socially integrated, and sports would be a great way. I am sure the parents are paying taxes to support the school within their district, whether or not they actually attend. So, in that regard, alone, I think they should be allowed to play. Also, I think it would help the home-schooled kids acquire some form of socializing skills.

There are home-school co-ops that provide for the formation of athletic teams. Why should the public school system take on integrating home-schoolers in their athletic programs? How would home-schoolers be held to the same attendance and grade requirements and is that really fair to the kids in the classroom? IMO, it’s too much to ask...school districts have enough on their plates than to worry about socialization or providing athletic opportunities to kids who choose not to enroll in their public school. Educating the kids who choose to be in the classroom is their top priority.
Bottom line...home-schooling is a choice, not mandated. Just because you pay taxes in a district, does not entitle you to services. (Think about all the taxpayers that don't even have children). Playing for your school, is just that...YOUR school. If not enrolled, it is not YOUR school...just part of the neighborhood. Fortunately, for those home-schoolers so inclined, in most sports there are lots of club and rec options that provide athletic and socialization opportunities.

There is the HSAA(Home School Athletic Assoc.) in which kids are on athletic teams and are able to compete against other schools in various sports but not district competions. Josh Lomers the center for Baylor played on one of these teams.

dreambig wrote:

Ibystander wrote:Well, I can imagine how hard it is to come up with a team if you're home-schooled. Who can you get to play with you, your brother and sisters? I think they should come up with a solution to integrate the home-schooled children. It's great if you can home school, but I feel they need to be socially integrated, and sports would be a great way. I am sure the parents are paying taxes to support the school within their district, whether or not they actually attend. So, in that regard, alone, I think they should be allowed to play. Also, I think it would help the home-schooled kids acquire some form of socializing skills.

There are home-school co-ops that provide for the formation of athletic teams. Why should the public school system take on integrating home-schoolers in their athletic programs? How would home-schoolers be held to the same attendance and grade requirements and is that really fair to the kids in the classroom? IMO, it’s too much to ask...school districts have enough on their plates than to worry about socialization or providing athletic opportunities to kids who choose not to enroll in their public school. Educating the kids who choose to be in the classroom is their top priority.
Bottom line...home-schooling is a choice, not mandated. Just because you pay taxes in a district, does not entitle you to services. (Think about all the taxpayers that don't even have children). Playing for your school, is just that...YOUR school. If not enrolled, it is not YOUR school...just part of the neighborhood. Fortunately, for those home-schoolers so inclined, in most sports there are lots of club and rec options that provide athletic and socialization opportunities.

Unfortunately the courts say that paying taxes does entitle them to services. You are right that educating the kids is their top priority but the not allowing Home Schoolerss to play is about the ridiculous amount of attention HS sports get in TX and has nothing to do with education. If a kids passes the TAKS and lives in the district why not allow him to play ball ? They can do any other extra curicularactivity except UIL ones. Why? The football gods have decreed it so.

my2cents wrote:

dreambig wrote:

Ibystander wrote:Well, I can imagine how hard it is to come up with a team if you're home-schooled. Who can you get to play with you, your brother and sisters? I think they should come up with a solution to integrate the home-schooled children. It's great if you can home school, but I feel they need to be socially integrated, and sports would be a great way. I am sure the parents are paying taxes to support the school within their district, whether or not they actually attend. So, in that regard, alone, I think they should be allowed to play. Also, I think it would help the home-schooled kids acquire some form of socializing skills.

There are home-school co-ops that provide for the formation of athletic teams. Why should the public school system take on integrating home-schoolers in their athletic programs? How would home-schoolers be held to the same attendance and grade requirements and is that really fair to the kids in the classroom? IMO, it’s too much to ask...school districts have enough on their plates than to worry about socialization or providing athletic opportunities to kids who choose not to enroll in their public school. Educating the kids who choose to be in the classroom is their top priority.
Bottom line...home-schooling is a choice, not mandated. Just because you pay taxes in a district, does not entitle you to services. (Think about all the taxpayers that don't even have children). Playing for your school, is just that...YOUR school. If not enrolled, it is not YOUR school...just part of the neighborhood. Fortunately, for those home-schoolers so inclined, in most sports there are lots of club and rec options that provide athletic and socialization opportunities.

Unfortunately the courts say that paying taxes does entitle them to services. You are right that educating the kids is their top priority but the not allowing Home Schoolerss to play is about the ridiculous amount of attention HS sports get in TX and has nothing to do with education. If a kids passes the TAKS and lives in the district why not allow him to play ball ? They can do any other extra curicularactivity except UIL ones. Why? The football gods have decreed it so.

I have no dog in this fight, but this problem just seems so petty. My kids go to public school, but I'm perfectly ok with allowing home-schooled children to try out in their district. I think it wouldn't hurt society to try to integrate these children as much as possible. I tend to favor the kid's best interest. It's a no-brainer to me that they pay taxes and also pay their own education at home, so what's all the fuss about? As long as they have to try out to make the team, are they really taking anyone's spot?

Ibystander wrote:I have no dog in this fight, but this problem just seems so petty. My kids go to public school, but I'm perfectly ok with allowing home-schooled children to try out in their district. I think it wouldn't hurt society to try to integrate these children as much as possible. I tend to favor the kid's best interest. It's a no-brainer to me that they pay taxes and also pay their own education at home, so what's all the fuss about? As long as they have to try out to make the team, are they really taking anyone's spot?

I definitely don't have a dog in the hunt either and don't really give a flip either way. Just think the whole idea adds another level of burden (and bureacracy) on our school systems that takes away from the classroom focus. I also think it opens up avenues of "gaming the system" for less altruistic people. (e.g. Star basketball can't make his grades and skips class a lot, so they make him a "home-schooled" student so he can "pass and play".)

I always hear from homeschool parents that they don't want their kids to socialize with the public school kids (fear of drugs, bullies, etc), so you'd think those parents would be against putting their kids within the public school system, especially in athletics where the coaches might actually yell at their child, or, oh, gosh! make them run laps if they do something wrong? To refer to a previous poster, our school district doesn't allow any extracurriculars, not just sports. The only thing it provides is state-mandated like speech therapy.