Parent urges Raleigh County Schools to let homeschooled elementary students play on school teams

A Raleigh County parent, identified in the meeting as Mr. Chippoletti, told the school board he is asking the district to change local policy E7A so homeschooled elementary students — including those using the Hope Scholarship — can participate in school athletics.

“I'm here today … asking for your support in making a small change to E7A that would allow homeschool kids to participate in elementary athletics even if they are not full-time enrolled,” Chippoletti said during the public-comment period, describing his fourth-grade son’s experience trying out for a summer program and then being excluded on the second day.

Chippoletti said district staff told him the policy requires students to be full-time enrolled and that two Raleigh County children had the same exclusion. He provided board members a packet of supporting materials and cited a draft state bill (House Bill 5647) introduced by Delegate Eric Brooks that, he said, would address the issue.

District staff acknowledged the exclusion. According to the public record, a staff member told Chippoletti that “Policy says no” when administrators reviewed eligibility. Board members responded by describing rule-change processes and encouraging the parent to bring the item forward formally so the board could consider placing it on a future agenda.

The board did not vote on a policy change at the meeting. Members and staff said changing policy is within the board’s authority and invited the parent to submit the item for consideration; no formal direction to staff or timetable for consideration was recorded.

Next steps: The parent said he expected to return to the board while seeking either a local policy change or legislative relief. Board staff did not announce a follow-up date but indicated procedural routes are available for placing the item on a future agenda.