SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Home-school students in New Jersey can currently participate in sports or extracurricular activities at schools in their district, but only if that district allows it.
A new bill advancing in the New Jersey State Legislature would require all districts to open those opportunities to home-schoolers.
The bill’s sponsors, Reps. Hal Wirths and Jay Webber, both R-Sparta, believe the bill is all about fairness, and that home-school students deserve the opportunity to participate in school sports.
They said property tax dollars paid by their families give them the right to play.
Webber said that most states including Pennsylvania already allow this, as then-Governor Ed Rendell signed such a provision into law in 2005. Webber believes it’s time for New Jersey to catch up on this issue.
All students would need to do is provide proof of residence and meet academic and eligibility requirements.
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Webber and Wirths said home schooling has increased by more than 60% because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those students should have all the opportunities to grow and develop their talents. They cited former college and NFL football player Tim Tebow, who was home-schooled while growing up in Florida.
The bill cleared the Assembly Education Committee on Thursday. There was no initial word on when it would be up for a full vote.
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