VITAL POLICY – Faison and Niceley Propose Legislation to Expand Access to Public School Sports for Homeschool Students

Homeschool families in Jefferson County who wish for their middle school children to participate in public school sports would get the green light if proposed legislation by Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) finds favor with the legislature.

“The benefits of organized sports go well beyond physical skills and are vitally important for the healthy growth and development of young people,” State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, said.  “I’m very proud to partner with Sen. Niceley to ensure our homeschooled students have opportunities to learn discipline, concentration, and responsibility through sports participation.”

Jefferson County High School is compelled by state law to provide homeschoolers, grades 9-12, access to public school sports because the school IS A MEMBER of Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). However, homeschooled middle schoolers are disenfranchised in Jefferson County because the school system is NOT A MEMBER of Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA), barring them from access to public school sports.

When email-interviewed for this report, TSSAA and TMSAA Executive Director Mark Reeves stated that his association welcomes homeschoolers to compete with non-member schools, further stating that his organization has one of the most inclusive policies of any athletic association in the nation. “TMSAA does not have a provision which would prevent our member schools from participating against schools who have home school students participating for their teams when their school is not a member of TMSAA.” Said Reeves

Emily Cornute, Legislative Liaison, Tennessee Department of Education, reinforces Reeves statement that local schools have the option of allowing homeschoolers to participate in public school sports absent membership in the sports association. “There is nothing in state law that prohibits an LEA that is not a member of TSSAA or TMSAA from allowing a homeschool student to participate in public school sports. However, local LEAs are allowed to make their own policies around this and may prohibit it at the local level.” Said Cornute

Current Jefferson County Schools Board Policy 6.202 does prohibit middle school aged homeschoolers from participating in public school sports because that policy provides eligibility for homeschool students only when their sport is governed by TMSAA. The Jefferson County School system is not a member school of TMSAA, not governed by TMSAA, and according to the director of schools, the system has no plans to become a member.

The Faison/Niceley bill, if enacted, would compel school districts to provide the opportunity for homeschool students to participate in public school sports, regardless of the district’s membership status in TMSAA/TSSAA.

Reference Link to Bills: HB1861/SB1979

David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.