Belton ISD board opts out of allowing non-enrolled students to participate in UIL activities for 2025–26

The Belton Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 6–0 on July 21 to adopt a resolution opting out of allowing non-enrolled students (including eligible homeschool students) to participate in University Interscholastic League activities for the 2025–26 school year. Doctor Morgan presented the item and reviewed state statutory changes. He said the underlying law has allowed districts to permit eligible non-enrolled students to participate since 2021, and that a $1,500 per-activity allotment was provided by the legislature in a later session. He explained that Senate Bill 401 (80th/89th Legislature language in the transcript) changed the default rule such that districts must adopt a policy to opt out if they do not want to allow non-enrolled participation for 2025–26. Morgan and administrators recommended opting out for 2025–26. The administration cited practical concerns: the administrative burden of individually verifying academics and eligibility for an unknown number of outside participants; residency and 15-day rules and dual participation restrictions; and potential consequences for teams if ineligible participants compete. Morgan said local polling of similar 5A and 6A districts in McLennan, Bell and neighboring areas suggested most were not allowing participation, and that only about 46 public and charter schools statewide had allowed non-enrolled participation in 2024'25. The board approved the resolution 6'0to'0, directing the district to opt out for the coming school year. Administrators said they will re-evaluate annually, as the statute requires. The adoption applies only to the 2025'26 school year; the district may revisit the decision in future years based on statewide trends and local capacity to administer eligibility checks.