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House allows virtual‑school students to compete in high school athletics; amendment to exclude some statewide online programs tabled
Summary
The House approved a bill to let virtual‑school students participate in interscholastic athletics if they meet eligibility standards. An amendment aimed at excluding certain statewide virtual providers from the measure was offered and tabled.
The Tennessee House passed Senate Bill 690 on third and final consideration to permit virtual‑school students to participate in interscholastic athletics provided they meet the same eligibility requirements that apply to other students.
Representative Matt Powers, sponsor, said the bill extends to virtual‑school students the same participation rights that earlier legislation had granted homeschool students. "All this is doing is just allowing virtual school students to participate in sports just like homeschool students do now," Powers said on the floor.
Representative Lisa Johnson offered an amendment to exclude certain statewide virtual providers that, she contended, sometimes do not maintain the same attendance and grading accountability as local online programs. Johnson said the amendment was intended to prevent a mismatch in eligibility standards between students enrolled in local LEA online programs and those enrolled in statewide virtual schools.
Leader Lambert successfully moved to table the amendment, cutting off debate on the change; the motion to table carried on a roll call and the main bill subsequently passed. Representatives asked whether students receiving education choice vouchers would be eligible; sponsors said that issue depends on yet‑to‑be‑finalized rules governing voucher programs and that the athletic‑eligibility measure itself follows existing TSSAA rules.
The House chair announced the bill had received a constitutional majority and declared it passed.
The floor debate centered on ensuring consistent attendance and vaccination rules and clarifying that participation would be subject to Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association rules for transfers and eligibility.
