Midland ISD board votes to opt out of allowing homeschool students in UIL activities for 2025–26

The Midland ISD Board of Trustees voted on July 29 to opt out of allowing non-enrolled (homeschool) students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities at district campuses for the 2025–26 school year. The board’s action follows state law (Senate Bill 401) giving districts the option to decline non-enrolled student participation by recorded board vote.

West Side executive director of athletics (name in record as presenter) and another athletics staffer explained district reasons to opt out: maintaining consistent academic standards, preserving program space and equitable opportunities for enrolled students, protecting practice-equity and scheduling, and limiting administrative burdens associated with eligibility verification for non-enrolled participants. The presenters also noted the state provides a $1,500 allotment per activity for each non-enrolled participant under House Bill 3708 but said that funding does not fully cover the administrative and programmatic costs.

Board members moved and seconded a resolution to opt out for the coming year. Trustees voted by hand; the motion passed with no recorded opposition. Superintendent Dr. Howard and athletic staff said the decision may be revisited in future years if circumstances change; trustees noted the opt-out applies for the upcoming year and the board may revisit the policy in a subsequent session.

The district will notify UIL and affected families of the policy. District staff said charter schools in the area generally did not allow homeschool participation and that the district checked neighboring districts’ practices when weighing the decision.