Why are homeschoolers not allowed to participate in athletics and other co-curricular activities in the public school?
Now that’s a good question. Many states allow homeschool students to participate in public school sports. But keep in mind, that each state has its own homeschool laws and requirements for participation. So, knowing Hawaii’s homeschool history will be helpful in understanding why the Chapter 12 Compulsory Attendance Exceptions Section 8-12-13(d) specifies that homeschoolers cannot participate in athletics and other co-curricular activities like public school students.
In 1987, a group of parents began working with the Board of Education (BOE) to legalize homeschooling in Hawaii. The parents firmly believed that God gave them the ultimate responsibility for the education of their children. The Board’s viewpoint was the exact opposite; they saw themselves as the experts.
As the parents faithfully persevered through the monthly meetings with the BOE, our sovereign and merciful God changed the hearts of the Board. In 1988, the homeschooling regulation, Chapter 12 Compulsory Attendance Exceptions, was passed.
Both sides had to come to a compromise. While parents wanted a complete hands-off rule, the Board remained firm in requiring some accountability by the parents.
The Rule (as it still holds today) requires parents to submit a Notice of Intent to homeschool. BUT is a notice, not a request for approval.
The Rule requires parents to keep records of the curriculum and learning materials used, in addition to starting and ending dates for the school year. BUT, parents have the authority to select the child’s learning program and curriculum; approval by the school is not needed. Parents also determine the school calendar for their family; they are not required to follow the public school calendar.
The Rule requires parents to submit an annual report of the child’s progress. Scores from a nationally normed standardized test are also required for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. BUT, parents have options on the methods used for this annual report. They also have options for the standardized test they can administer to their child.
The pioneers of the homeschooling law in Hawaii fought for your homeschool freedom to educate your children as you determined was best for your family. In seeking the least amount of government regulation, these parents agreed to Section 8-12-13(d) regarding athletics and co-curricular activities.
Over the past 3 decades, legislators, often at the request of homeschool parents, have introduced bills that would allow homeschool students to participate in athletics in public schools. A major issue has been the academic requirements. Since the Department of Education (DOE) and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) policy requires students to maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average and be passing courses required for graduation, questions about how homeschool students would meet these requirements were raised. Should parents, without DOE approval, determine what courses the homeschool student takes? Should parents be assigning the grades? Or should the school?
The issue has not been resolved. Basically, it is a question of authority – do homeschool parents have the authority over their children’s education or does that authority belong to the school?
At the present time, Hawaii parents have stood for freedom of choice in home educating their children over government regulation. May the Lord continue to protect our responsibility and decision to educate our children.
