Parent and student ask Toms River board to reconsider homeschool-athlete ban

Daniel Ackerman and his son Andrew asked the Toms River Regional Schools board to revisit the district policy that prevents homeschool students from participating in high school athletics.

Daniel Ackerman spoke during public comment and said the group is not seeking a wholesale overturn but wants a policy that allows high-performing homeschool students to compete. "What we're looking here to do is take a policy that currently punishes all for the sins of a few and change that to something that is written to reward those that are performing at a higher level within their homeschooling," he said.

Andrew Ackerman, a 15-year-old who takes college courses and competes on club swim teams, described his academic achievements and national ranking in his age group and said he feels excluded from the team environment by the current policy. "This sport can sometimes be very isolating because you're constantly swimming for yourself. With high school meets, you're swimming for the team," he said, asking the board to "please change the policy for the good of all children in my position."

Board members responded that the district has discussed the matter at the administrative level and that policy review would occur at the policy committee in the coming weeks. The chair noted the next policy meeting is expected in January and that officials have had conversations with Superintendent Pat Thomas and assistant administrators; she said committee review will give the board a chance to hear details and recommendations before any formal action.

No vote or formal change was made at the meeting. Supporters and students in the audience asked the board to consider a narrowly tailored policy that would allow qualified homeschool students to participate; board members invited the parents and others to present further information at the policy committee.

The board did not set a timetable for any formal change beyond committee consideration.