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Father and student ask board to allow homeschooled athletes to compete
Summary
A Toms River family asked the board to revise policy 24‑31, which currently prohibits homeschooled students from participating in high school sports; the student described competitive records and college coursework and the board said it will take the request for further discussion.
Daniel Ackerman and his son, Andrew Ackerman, asked the board to revisit policy 24-31, which they said bars homeschooled athletes from participating in district high school sports. Daniel Ackerman asked for discussion and suggested the board consider guidelines rather than a blanket ban.
"The NJSIA rules allow for homeschool athletes," Daniel Ackerman said, asking the board to discuss possible approaches and to meet with families. His son, Andrew, described his academic standing — he is enrolled in Ocean County College as part of an early-college program and said he maintains an A average and strong attendance — and cited competitive swim achievements, including breaking a YMCA long-course record at age 12 and a 1,500-meter record at 14. "I want to swim in high school," Andrew said, urging the board to consider guidelines to permit qualified homeschool athletes.
District officials responded they would take the request back for discussion and follow up with the family. The board did not take immediate action during the meeting.
