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Staff urges opt‑out approach for homeschool participation in UIL pending state guidance; neighboring districts leaning to opt out
Summary
After review of new law allowing homeschool students to participate in UIL activities, staff recommended Castleberry consider temporarily opting out until additional guidance clarifies standardized-test proof, grade checks, and fiscal/discipline implications; nearby districts reportedly plan to opt out.
District staff briefed the board on statutory changes requiring districts to permit homeschooled students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities unless a district adopts an opt‑out. Wes Jackson and athletics staff outlined operational and equity concerns and recommended caution.
Jackson said the new law (presented to the board as Senate Bill 401) requires districts to allow homeschool participation unless the district opts out, and that participating homeschooled students generally must reside in the district’s attendance zone, submit prior athletic participation forms and meet eligibility approvals for varsity competition from the district executive committee. Jackson said districts must also rely on parent‑submitted grades every nine weeks and a standardized test score showing grade‑level proficiency to determine eligibility — items he described as "a bit vague" in current guidance.
Staff warned of potential costs and operational impacts: homeschooled participants do not generate state funding for the district, but the district may incur equipment and travel costs, insurance exposure, meal and supervisory costs, and potential discipline and supervision challenges because homeschooled students are not enrolled full‑time and are not fully subject to campus disciplinary placements such as in‑school suspension (ISS) in the same way as enrolled students. Staff also noted programmatic concerns for skill‑based activities such as band, where multi‑year progression matters.
Jackson said most nearby districts contacted by staff intend to opt out, and athletic staff recommended the district consider an opt‑out policy while awaiting UIL/TEA guidance on standardized‑test definitions and other procedural clarifications. Board members indicated concern about fairness to enrolled students and the administrative burden of verifying parent‑provided grades and test results.
Staff said they will bring a draft policy for board consideration (the district may either adopt an opt‑out or permit homeschool participation subject to local eligibility rules) and will monitor peer district policy decisions and UIL/TEA guidance.
