Tim Tebow – Page 2 – Family Council

At Least 463 Home Schoolers Used Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” Law in 2021

Jun 29, 2022Jerry CoxHome SchoolHome School, Tim Tebow

Family Council estimates that at least 463 home schooled students took part in interscholastic activities alongside public and private school students in 2021.

The figure is based on reports obtained from the Arkansas Department of Education via the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

The reports showed 463 students were assigned code numbers indicating they were home schoolers participating in interscholastic activities at a public school.

In 2013 the Arkansas Legislature passed a law letting home schooled students participate in interscholastic activities at local public schools.

The measure is sometimes referred to as a “Tim Tebow Law,” because former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was able to play football as a home schooler thanks to a similar law in Florida.

Over the years, Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law has expanded to apply to interscholastic activities at local private schools and public schools in neighboring school districts as well.

The law gives home schoolers the opportunity to play sports and participate in extracurricular activities just like any other student. It’s a good law that Family Council has been pleased to support over the years.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas’ New “Tim Tebow” Law is About School Choice

Aug 14, 2013Jerry6 CommentsHome SchoolHome School, Tim Tebow

Beginning this year, Arkansas home schoolers will be able to participate in interscholastic, extracurricular activities at their local public school. Rep. Gunner Delay first introduced this concept in the Arkansas Legislature back in 2001. It only took 12 years for this law to pass.

Why did it take so long? Some in the education establishment seem to think it is their mission to preserve the status quo at all costs—even the education of our children. That’s why they oppose anything that looks or smells like school choice. The worst thing some of these folks can imagine is allowing parents the freedom to choose how to educate their children. They don’t even want kids to be able to choose a different public school.

Thankfully, not everyone wants to build a “Berlin Wall” around the public schools. In fact, some superintendents are viewing this new law as a way to roll out the red carpet and recruit some new students for their school. They know that school choice is a two-way street and that some home schoolers just might choose to return to public school.

When all is said and done, this new law is about empowering parents to choose how their children are educated and that’s how it should be.

House Education Committee Votes Down “Tim Tebow” Home School Law

Mar 26, 2013Jerry1 CommentHome SchoolHome School, Tim Tebow

On Tuesday the House Education Committee failed to pass HB1789, the “Tim Tebow Home School Law.” This law would have allowed home schooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. The bill received only 7 votes from the 20-member committee. Rep. Mark Lowery (R-Maumelle) is planning to present the bill again on Thursday. The Arkansas Education Association, the Arkansas School Board Association, the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, and the Arkansas Activities Association testified against the bill in committee today, and all are trying to kill it.

Anyone who wants to see this bill pass should contact members of the committee listed below. Below is a list of the members of the House Education Committee and how they voted on HB1789 today.

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