Amend NY Education Law—Let Homeschoolers Join School Sports!

As a parent of homeschoolers who have grown to love their community sports, I witness the hardship they face as they transition to 7th grade. At just twelve years old, these children are abruptly barred from participating in school sports, from their familiar team and friends, and forced into the costly realm of clubs and travel teams. This pivotal moment affects not only my children but also a significant number of other homeschoolers within New York State.

Homeschooling has become an important aspect of the educational choice available for American families with around 3% of the school-age population being homeschooled as per National Center for Education Statistics(2019). However, these homeschooling students face inequitable opportunities in extracurricular school sports. This disparity raises concerns for the holistic development of these children as sports participation has been demonstrated to have numerous benefits including improving physical health, fostering teamwork, and instilling discipline.

We implore the New York State policymakers and educational authorities to revise this policy and pass Senate Bill S3436 that would allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports. The current policy limits the involvement of homeschoolers and bars them from participating in public school sports. Legally mandating public schools to include homeschooling children in their sports programs can improve the accessibility of athletic resources to homeschooled kids and keep them connected with their peers. 

We call upon all parents, educators, and supporters to join this cause. Your signature represents the need for collective action to enrich the experiences of our homeschooled children. Please sign this petition to voice your advocacy for the rights of homeschooled children.