Committee favors bill to let homeschool students access public career‑tech programs

The Senate education committee gave HB61 a favorable report after hearing that the bill would allow homeschool students to participate in public career and technical education programs.

Rep. DuBose, who presented HB61, said the measure — which passed the committee last year — simply permits homeschool students to enroll in career and technical programs at public schools. “This still simply allows homeschoolers to participate in career and technical programs in the public schools,” DuBose said.

Committee members raised operational concerns. Several principals and career-center directors had told members that career-technical centers have limited capacity and waiting lists for public-school students. Committee members said public students should have enrollment priority and that districts could set attendance and disciplinary standards for homeschool students participating in programs.

DuBose said schools would retain the ability to set local guidelines — for example, removing a homeschool student after repeated tardiness or lack of attendance — and that public students would be prioritized when capacity is limited. He added that many CTE programs include hands-on instruction that is difficult to replicate at home and that the bill supports the state’s workforce-readiness goals.

During the roll call the committee recorded several explicit “aye” votes and at least one “no.” Committee staff announced the bill received a favorable report.

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Details: Sponsor and committee members agreed public students would be prioritized when program space is limited. Local principals would be able to set participation rules (attendance, removal for repeated absence or tardiness).