Delegate Rob Bell has long championed the Tebow Bill which would allow home schooled students the right to participate in sports in public schools. House Bill 1626 passed the House today by a vote of 62 to 37. The bill previously passed the State Senate by a vote of 22 to 13. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.[read_more]
Governor McAuliffe has not said if he will sign the bill. His office said he would ‘carefully consider it’. (I’m afraid that means a veto.) If the Governor signs the bill home schooled students would be eligible to participate in puplic school sports programs beginning in September.
Virginia has 32,000 home schooled students, 2.5% of the school age population, making the Tebow bill a popular one. If the Governor signs the bill Virginia will become the 30th state to allow home schooled students to participate in public school sports so it’s not exactly a radical idea. And why shouldn’t those students be allowed to participate? As Loudoun School Board member Bill Fox said,
“Their parents pay taxes in Loudoun County just like everybody else.”
I would add their parents also save the taxpayer money by not having their children enrolled in public schools.
