The Wyoming Senate Education Committee voted 4-0 to advance House Bill 23, which requires school districts to allow students not enrolled in a district to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
The bill is part of a growing number of “Tim Tebow Laws” — Tebow was homeschooled and has been a proponent of such legislation — at the state level. Approximately half of U.S. states now permit homeschooled students full access to interscholastic activities, with about 20 states offering unrestricted participation.
When introduced, the Wyoming bill would have only applied to grades 6-12, but an amendment broadens the scope of the legislation to include K-12.
“I can remember when my kids were in school and they were in a one-room country school in the grades, particularly four, five, and six,” said Senator Charlie Scott during a hearing. “They were participating with a town school in intramural sports among several schools. And it was good for them.”
According to the Cowboy State Daily, lawmakers also discussed paying for the bill at Wednesday's hearing, as the state recently reduced funding for activities.
“Districts are happy to have those kids come and join us but just want you to be aware that that’s kind of the environment that’s in,” said Brian Farmer of the Wyoming School Boards Association.
Where districts charge students to participate in sports or activities, all students must be charged the same amount, including homeschoolers, Farmer said.
