public school sports has died in the Virginia General Assembly.
The Senate Education and Health Committee voted 8-7 Thursday to reject
Republican Del. Rob Bell's bill.
The measure is known as the "Tim Tebow bill" - a reference to the
Denver Broncos quarterback who was home-schooled and went on to win a
Heisman Trophy at the University of Florida.
Supporters of the bill say parents who homeschool their children pay
taxes like everyone else, so their children should have the
opportunity to compete in interscholastic sports. Opponents argue that
parents who choose to teach their children at home know the rules, and
it would be unfair to let those kids play without meeting eligibility
standards that public school students must meet.
EARLIER:
RICHMOND, Va. (WUSA) -- Virginia lawmakers could pass their own
version of what's been nicknamed the "Tim Tebow law."
Tebow, now the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, was home-schooled
growing up in Florida. But in that state, he was allowed to play
football on a high school team near his home.
This bill has been in talks for several years now but this is the
first year it's gotten this far, but a down vote in subcommittee
Thursday could spell the end of the bill.
9 News Now reporter Delia Goncalves met with a group of parents on
Wednesday who have home schooled their children for nearly a dozen
years in Loudoun County. All the kids play community sports and have
excelled in their age groups, but they want to take it to the next
level. According to the Virginia Home School Association, there are
roughly 6,000 home schooled children in the state and only a small
percentage actually would qualify to play or even try out for high
school sports.
The bill sponsor has said since home schooled parents pay taxes their
children should be afforded the right to play in high school sports.
But the Virginia High School League argues that point, adding home
school children could take spots away from public school players.
"I had a conversation with a friend and he thought home school
children would take spots away, and we were actually at a lacrosse
game and I said to him, 'here's the U-15 players -- only 2 children
who play in our U-15 program, there's only two home schoolers and they
feed into 3 schools. So those two future ninth graders aren't going to
take spots away from anyone," explained Mary-Chris Beardsley, who home
schools her children Ronana, McKenzie and Carter.
Eleven-year-old Ronan Beardsley said, "There are two teams in most
schools -- JV and Varsity."
McKenzie Beardsley said, "We're not asking for an automatic spot on
team. We're only asking them to try out."
"Biggest thing for me is to play with my friends and represent the
community I've lived in for most of my life," shared Carter Beardsley.
But opponents say players not only represent the community, they
represent their high school and home school parents have chosen to
take their children out of the public schools so should not be
afforded the same rights.
Also, critics claim the nearly 13 requirements public school students
must pass in order to play cannot be met by home schoolers.
Thirteen-year-old Campbell Niehaus has been a star athlete for several
years now and testified for the bill. His mom says the only
qualification they don't meet are the one that require public school
attendance.
Kendra Niehaus said, "They are held to higher standard in terms of
having to have two years of experience and worth of academic
progress."
"I've been playing sports with my public school friends for years and
I want to keep playing with them and I also think I would have a
better chance to be scouted if I was in a high school team," said
13-year-old Campbell Niehaus.
Ken Tilley with The Virginia High School League says: "parents of home
schooled children have voluntarily chosen not to participate in the
free public education system in order to educate their children at
home; in making this choice, these parents have also chosen to forego
the privileges incidental to a public education."
The former school superintendent is on the record saying, "As for
priorities, home school families should fight first for access to
algebra and chemistry...not football and soccer. The General Assembly
should "take a knee" on this one!"
If the bill is passed it would just give high schools the option of
allowing home schooled athletes to try out for teams. The bill would
take effect in the fall and each individual school would have to come
up with its own policy so all players are given equal opportunity.
For more information on these matters please call our office at 305
548 5020, option 1.
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