Godley ISD adopts policy changes to allow non‑enrolled students in UIL activities amid director concerns

Godley ISD trustees voted 5–1 to adopt revisions to district policies FM Local and FD Local to implement state rules that allow non‑enrolled students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities under Senate Bill 401. The vote came after more than an hour of public comment and detailed presentations from the district's athletic and fine‑arts directors.

The decision matters because the state law creates new eligibility pathways for homeschool and other non‑enrolled students while attaching administrative and compliance duties to districts. Athletic Director Danny Dudgeon and Fine Arts Director Joe Walker told the board the district needs time, funding and staff capacity to monitor discipline, academics and daily participation requirements.

Board members heard multiple public comments in support of allowing homeschool participation. One student, Oakley Hardcastle, said she has grown up playing sports in Godley and “would like to keep playing with [my friends] throughout middle school and high school.” Parent speakers, including Kay Kaye Botiford and Dustin Hardcastle, said homeschool students want equal access and provided sample packets from other districts.

Dudgeon told the board the law creates administrative differences that the district must manage. He said non‑enrolled students “do have to adhere to the same student code of conduct, but the discipline structure is not the same” and explained the district cannot apply certain in‑school disciplinary placements to unenrolled students in the same way as enrolled students. He also gave specific operational examples and cost concerns: “Football alone, $1,500 does not cover the equipment that we issue our athletes. The new helmets are … $705 just the helmet alone for football,” and he said band instruments run “around $1,800.”

Dudgeon described monitoring challenges driven by UIL rules and local practice: homeschool students must submit an initial basic skills test during the first six weeks and regular grade checks afterward, but the district cannot require curriculum parity. He said the district must also enforce the UIL’s 60‑minute daily participation limit and warned that “we are liable to have to forfeit as a team or as an individual if that is violated.” He reported current roster sizes — 272 high school athletes (grades 9–12) and 196 junior high athletes — and said facilities, locker rooms and equipment are already strained.

Walker said his main concern is timing: “I’m not against the idea of this program happening. I just… am very worried about the timing of everything coming down with this right now.” He said band and other fine‑arts programs are already in session and that receiving students mid‑season could leave new participants far behind.

Administrators and trustees discussed implementation options, including creating a dedicated staff position to manage unenrolled student compliance (a role Weatherford and Abilene‑Wiley districts use). The board also noted the district can opt out this year; trustees were told the deadline to opt out for the current school year is September 1, and the deadline to change the decision for a following year is August 1 (for example, to opt in for 2026–27).

After public comment and staff presentations, Trustee Terry moved to approve the revisions to FM Local and FD Local "as presented and recommended," and Trustee Jamie seconded. The motion passed 5–1.

Discussion versus decision: most staff comments were discussion of implementation needs and risks; the board’s formal action was adoption of the policy revisions. Several trustees said they supported continued community engagement and formation of a committee to draft Godley‑specific procedures before large-scale rollout.

The board directed staff to continue research, consult districts that have implemented the provisions, and consider options for additional staffing and written procedures. Trustees and staff repeatedly emphasized that families and programs should be involved in any implementation committee.

Minor operational history and comparisons: administrators reported that Abilene‑Wiley — an early adopter — had 17 participants last year (most on the fine‑arts side) and Weatherford had about 12 participants and uses an independent assistant athletic director to manage the program; Weatherford’s assistant reported the administrative duties consumed much of that position’s time.

The board did not adopt an immediate moratorium; instead, by adopting the policy changes the district now has authority to enroll non‑enrolled students under state law while the trustees and staff continue local policy and staffing work.

The board’s action does not change UIL rules or state statute; the adopted local policies reflect the district’s interpretation of current state requirements and create a district process to accept non‑enrolled students. Parents and staff will continue meeting with the district about implementation details in the coming weeks.