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House votes to let virtual-school students play for local high school teams under same eligibility rules as homeschoolers
Summary
House Bill 3 55 (Senate Bill 6 90) permits virtual-school students to participate in interscholastic athletics if they meet eligibility requirements used for homeschool students; debate addressed vaccination and transfer rules and whether voucher recipients would be eligible.
The House approved a measure allowing virtual-school students to participate in interscholastic athletics at local public schools if they meet the same eligibility requirements that currently apply to homeschool students.
Representative Dennis Powers, sponsor of the bill (House Bill 3 55; Senate Bill 6 90), told the chamber the bill fills a gap left when homeschool students were previously allowed to play but virtual students were not. "All this is doing is just allowing virtual school students to participate in sports just like homeschool students do now," Powers said.
Representative Mike Warner asked whether students participating in virtual programs while receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers would be permitted to play; Powers said rules related to school-choice programs and vouchers are still being developed and would likely be addressed in administrative rules or by TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) eligibility rules.
Representative McKenzie asked whether vaccination and other health or eligibility requirements would apply; Powers said virtual students would have to meet the same eligibility criteria as homeschool students and that the TSSAA had approved the change.
Representative Mary Johnson offered an amendment intended to exclude certain statewide online schools that “skirt” attendance and grading duties; the amendment was tabled on a procedural vote. Supporters and critics debated whether statewide online providers consistently follow attendance and grade verification practices used by local LEA virtual programs.
The House called the question and voted to pass the bill. The recorded vote was entered in the House journal and the presiding officer declared passage.
The sponsor and supporters said the change will allow virtual students the same extracurricular opportunities as other students; critics said the measure should ensure consistent accountability for attendance and grading in statewide online programs.
