AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) was created in 1913 to allow for all students to participate in UIL sponsored activities. Currently, home-schooled students are ineligible to participate in UIL sponsored activities.
C.S.S.B. 929 amends current law relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities, and authorizes a fee.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, by adding Section 33.0833, as follows:
Sec. 33.0833. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. (a) Defines "home-schooled student" in this section.
(b) Requires a public school that participates in an activity sponsored by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), except as provided by Subsection (g), to provide a home-schooled student, who otherwise meets UIL eligibility standards to represent that school in a UIL activity, with the opportunity to participate in the activity on behalf of the school in the same manner that the school provides the opportunity to participate to students enrolled in the school.
(c) Provides that a home-schooled student who seeks to participate or who participates in a UIL activity on behalf of a school is subject to the relevant policies that apply to students enrolled in the school, including policies regarding registration, age eligibility, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of behavior, and performance.
(d) Provides that the parent or legal guardian of a home-schooled student is responsible for oversight of academic standards relating to the student's participation in a UIL activity. Requires a home-schooled student, as a condition of eligibility to participate in a UIL activity during the first six weeks of a school year, to demonstrate grade-level academic proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument, including the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, and Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. Provides that a home-schooled student demonstrates the required academic proficiency by achieving a composite, core, or survey score that is within the average or higher than average range of scores, as established by the applicable testing service. Requires a school district, for purposes of this subsection, to accept assessment results administered or reported by a third party.
(e) Provides that a home-schooled student's demonstration of academic proficiency under Subsection (d) is sufficient for purposes of that subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the required score and the subsequent school year.
(f) Requires the parent or legal guardian of a home-schooled student participating in a UIL activity on behalf of a public school to, after the first six weeks of a school year, periodically, in accordance with the school's grading calendar, provide written verification to the school indicating that the student is receiving a passing grade in each course or subject being taught.
(g) Provides that a home-schooled student is not authorized by this section to participate in a UIL activity during the remainder of any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in a public school.
(h) Prohibits UIL from prohibiting a home-schooled student from participating in UIL activities in the manner authorized by this section.
(i) Provides that this section expires July 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, effective July 1, 2017, by adding Section 33.0834, as follows:
Sec. 33.0834. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. (a) Defines "home-schooled student" in this section.
(b) Authorizes a home-schooled student, notwithstanding the expiration of Section 33.0833, as added by S.B. 929, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, who participated in an activity sponsored by UIL under the authority of that section before July 1, 2017, to continue to participate in the same UIL activity on the same terms previously specified by that section.
(c) Provides that this section expires July 1, 2030.
SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.
SECTION 4. Effective date, except as otherwise provided by this Act: upon passage or September 1, 2013.