House Education Committee Passes Bill Expanding Interscholastic Opportunities for Home Schoolers

On Tuesday the House Education Committee passed a good bill expanding interscholastic opportunities for home schoolers.

S.B. 361 by Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) and Rep. Cameron Cooper (R – Romance) amends Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law that lets home schoolers participate in athletics and other interscholastic activities at their local public schools. The law is named after former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who was able to play football as a home schooler thanks to a similar law in Florida.

S.B. 361 makes it easier for home schoolers to participate in an interscholastic activity in a neighboring school district if their local district doesn’t offer the activity.

It also clarifies requirements in the “Tebow” law about enrollment in public school classes and about the waiting period for students who want to play sports after withdrawing from a public school to start home schooling.

As we said when lawmakers passed it in 2013, the “Tim Tebow” law is about school choice.

It empowers families by providing children with interscholastic options as well as educational options.

Last summer Family Council obtained government data showing at least 463 home schooled students utilized the “Tim Tebow” law in 2021.

The “Tim Tebow” law is a good law that Family Council has been pleased to support over the years.

You Can Read S.B. 361 Here.

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

Senate Committee Passes Bill Expanding Interscholastic Opportunities for Home Schoolers

On Wednesday the Senate Education Committee passed a bill expanding interscholastic opportunities for home schoolers.

S.B. 361 by Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) and Rep. Cameron Cooper (R – Romance) amends Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law that lets home schoolers participate in athletics and other interscholastic activities at their local public schools. The “Tebow” law is named after former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was able to play football as a home schooler thanks to a similar law in Florida.

S.B. 361 makes it easier for home schoolers to participate in an activity in a neighboring school district if their local district doesn’t offer the activity.

It also clarifies requirements in the “Tebow” law about enrollment in public school classes and about the waiting period for students who withdraw from a public school to start home schooling.

As we said when lawmakers passed it in 2013, the “Tim Tebow” law is about school choice.

It empowers families by providing children with interscholastic options as well as educational options. That’s how it should be.

Last summer Family Council obtained government data showing at least 463 home schooled students utilized the “Tim Tebow” law in 2021.

The “Tim Tebow” law is a good law that Family Council has been pleased to support over the years.

You Can Read S.B. 361 Here.

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

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

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.