What's happening
This bill allows homeschooled students in New York to participate in public school courses and athletic activities if they meet requirements.
Why it matters
Expands educational access for homeschoolers. By allowing homeschooled students to enroll in public school courses, the bill enables these students to benefit from specialized classes (like lab sciences, foreign languages, or advanced courses) that may be difficult to replicate at home.
Supports social and athletic development. Granting homeschooled students the right to participate in public school athletic teams gives them access to structured physical activity, teamwork experiences, and social engagement with peers, which are often cited as gaps in homeschooling.
Requires parity and accountability. Homeschooled students must meet the same course requirements and pay any applicable fees as public school students, ensuring a level playing field and maintaining standards for participation.
Potential impact on school and community dynamics. The bill could increase community ties and mutual understanding between homeschooling families and public schools, but may also raise questions about resource allocation, eligibility verification, and integration into existing school activities.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Let Homeschoolers Join School Sports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
736
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the participation of home-schooled pupils in certain school activities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 806-a of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. Whenever such course of instruction is offered within a district, a child residing within that district but not attending the school at which such course is offered, shall be allowed to participate in such course, provided such child otherwise meets the requirements of such course and pays fees related to such course, if any.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3202-a to read as follows:
§ 3202-a. Participation of home-schooled students in athletic activities. Whenever a district shall offer an interscholastic athletic activity, a child residing within such district but not attending such school, shall be allowed an opportunity to participate in such athletic activity; provided, that such child is not a pupil at another school within such district.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03547-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the participation of home-schooled pupils in certain school activities
Purpose
The bill's purpose is to allow home schooled students to participate in driver's education and interscholastic athletic activities which are offered by the school within which district the student resides in.
Summary of provisions
This bill requires amendment of section 806a and section 3202-a of the education law.
Section 1 adds a new subdivision 3 to section 806-a of the education law. Whenever driver's education is offered within a district, a child residing within the district but not attending the school at which the course is offered, will be allowed to participate in the source, provided the child meets the requirements and pays fees related, if there are any. Section 2 adds a new section 3202-a to the education law. Whenever a district offers an interscholastic athletic activity, a child residing within the district but not attending the school, will be allowed an opportunity to participate in such activity; provided, that the child is not a pupil at another school within such district.
Section 3 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
The intention of this legislation is to amend the current education law, which requires the student's enrollment in the school district as a condition for participation in that school's interscholastic sports program, in order for home schooled students to be better integrated in society and societal activities through participation in public school's interscholastic extracurricular activities.
Legislative history
2013-2014: A5711 - Referred to Education 2011-2012: A10485 - Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Local fiscal implications
Undetermined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.