Committee releases study on homeschool access to school extracurriculars after broad stakeholder support

Representative Neal introduced HB 350, called the "equal access" or "Tim Tebow Act," to direct the Department of Education to study the feasibility of allowing homeschooled students to join sports or clubs at their local feeder schools. "This bill does not change homeschooling laws," Neal said. "Participation, if this bill is ever implemented, would be entirely voluntary and limited to sports and extracurriculars, not academics or curriculum." The sponsor also told the committee DOE indicated no fiscal note was necessary to complete the study.

Public commenters ranged from homeschool leaders to education advocates. Jeff Hague, president of Tri State Homeschool, said opinions vary across homeschool families but expressed cautious optimism and recommended the study proceed. Britney Mumford (Delaware Kids Can) and others emphasized extracurriculars' role in social and emotional development and urged the committee to release the bill to allow careful stakeholder work.

Susan Brown of the Delaware Association of School Administrators urged naming a stakeholder committee to guide DOE's findings, suggesting inclusion of superintendents, athletic directors and special-education coordinators to evaluate fiscal and logistical impacts. The Delaware Farm Bureau asked that career- and technical-program participation be considered in the study.

Committee members moved to release HB 350; a roll‑call vote carried and the bill was advanced from committee.