CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The bill that would allow home-schooled students or students at private schools not associated with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission to participate in sports and extra-curricular activities at SSAC schools will be up for passage in the state Senate Wednesday.
The bill (SB 105), also called the Tim Tebow Act, was amended twice during Tuesday’s floor session. Senators approved an amendment that would give SSAC-member private schools the option of accepting the home-schooled students or students from non-member schools.
Sen. Tom Takubo (R-Kanawha) said he got a call from a Catholic school principal Monday who expressed concern.
“I know some (private) schools would probably welcome that (the students) and some won’t, but because it is a private institution under certain principles it was felt they should be allowed to participate or not participate,” Takubo said.
The bill would require public schools to accept the students who wanted to play sports or participate in other extra-curricular activities while remaining home schooled or in the non-member schools.
A second amendment, which was also approved, would prohibit a student at a non-member school to transfer to a member school if the activity is already offered at their school.
The bill named after former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow who was home-schooled by his parents in Florida but allowed to participate in high school sports.