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Interscholastic Activities Opened to Homeschoolers
Senior Counsel Dee Black answers questions and assists members with legal issues in South Carolina. He and his wife homeschooled their children. Read more >>
On June 7, 2012, Governor Nikki Haley signed into law Senate Bill 149, thereby creating the Equal Access to Interscholastic Activities Act applicable to charter school students, Governor’s school students, and homeschool students. As it relates to homeschool students, the new law permits those who have been homeschooled for a full academic year to participate in interscholastic activities at their local public school. These activities include, but are not limited to, athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities. The law went into effect on the date of the governor’s approval, in time for the upcoming 2012–13 school year.
Homeschool students must meet all eligibility requirements except the school district’s attendance requirements and the class and enrollment requirements of the associations administering the interscholastic activities. The homeschool student must reside within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates. The student is also required to notify the superintendent of the school district in writing of his intent to participate in the activity before the beginning date of the season for the activity. Further, the homeschool student is required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related practice requirements, of other students participating in the activity and to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad.
Home School Legal Defense Association took a neutral position on this legislation.