Tag: Athletics

Home-schoolers Bill Fails Again

The push again this year by Delegate Robert Bell, R-Albemarle for home-schooled students to be allowed access to participation in public school athletic programs has failed.  The bill, Senate Bill 1442, failed yesterday by a vote of 8 – 7.  Senator Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake, sided with several democrats on the committee to defeat the bill. …

Continue reading

Virginia School Board Association Position on Home Schooled Students/VHSL Activities

 This past summer and into the early fall, the VSBA sponsored meetings to share knowledge, perceptions and concerns related to home schoolers participating in high school activities sanctioned by the Virginia High School League. With the expectation that HB947, the “Tim Tebow” bill, or other varieties of  it will resurface in the 2013 General Assembly, the …

Continue reading

VHSL Athletics and Homeschoolers…..Again

The Virginia School Boards Association is spearheading a discussion group on “homeschoolers participation in VHSL activities” and will address the issues and concerns surrounding the question of whether or not home schooled students should be allowed to participate in high school sports and other VHSL activities. Since 2002, the General Assembly has reviewed legislation that …

Continue reading

House Bill 947 Fails

In a room packed with homeschoolers and their parents and, for the first time, public school students, HB 947 failed to be reported. Citing choice, fairness and the importance of preserving competition, opponents of HB 947 told Senate Education and Health Committee members that parents make choices regarding where their children will be educated and …

Continue reading

Senate Committee Kills Bills Monitored by VASSP

The Senate Health and Education Committee killed two bills that VASSP has been monitoring closely.  HB947, the “Tim Tebow”, bill failed on an 8 – 7 vote and it is unlikely that it will resurface before the end of this General Assembly session.  The other piece of legislation was the bill that would allow public school divisions to open schools when …

Continue reading

Home School / High School Athletics Divide Continues

The homeschool athlete participation bill (HB947) lingers in the Virginia General Assembly and the issue continues to garner attention. In a recent article in the February 27 Virginian-Pilot www.Pilotonline.com, the debate continues in “Tebow Mania Makes Bad Law.”  In the commentary, the previous points which identify this piece of legislation as unacceptable are continued: 1. Tebow …

Continue reading

General Assembly Report – February 2

This week at the GA was tough on those of us who oppose HB 967 that would basically force the VHSL to amend their regulations to allow for home schoolers to participate in interscholastic activities or to essentially go defunct – since school divisions would not be allowed to join an organization that did not …

Continue reading

H B 947: Home School Students Participation in High School Athletics

HB 947 would allow home school students the opportunity to play high school athletics at their local high school even though they are not enrolled in the public school. Many are calling this the “Tim Tebow Bill” because of the success of the former Heisman Trophy winner and current Denver Bronco quarterback who was home …

Continue reading

Athletics and Home Schoolers Again!

The home school contingent of parents and supporters are again making their demand for their children to participate in public school  athletic activties.  This request is not a new one as it has been on the list of proposed legislation in previous years/sessions.   For the current session, the process began on September 6, 2011 when …

Continue reading

General Assembly Report – January 30

Home school advocates had the upper hand in a “friendly” House Education subcommittee on Thursday, when they packed a small room in the General Assembly building at 7 AM to speak in favor of Delegate Bell’s House Bill 947 that would not allow school divisions to participate in a league that does not allow home …

Continue reading