It is important to know the laws when you are homeschooling. Here is a summary of homeschool law relating to interscholastic activities that we keep as updated as possible.
Participating in Interscholastic Activities
By law (ORS 339.460), homeschool students in Oregon are allowed to participate in public school interscholastic activities. Such activities include but are not limited to “athletics, music, speech, and other related activities.”
Homeschool students desiring to participate in interscholastic activities must take a standardized achievement test at the end of each school year (defined by the Department of Education as June 15) and must achieve at or above the 23rd percentile based on national norms. The test is submitted to the local school district before participating in the interscholastic activity. (If the test is taken during one of the “target grades” of 3, 5, 8 or 10, the family should also be prepared to turn in test results to the ESD if requested.)
The school district, in consultation with the parents, may adopt alternative requirements such as a portfolio of work samples for evaluation to determine whether a student is eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.
Students desiring to participate with public or private schools must live within the attendance boundaries of the school. You may not participate in interscholastic activities with a private school outside the attendance boundaries of your local high school. Private schools are not obligated to allow you into their program and you may be required to pay any appropriate fees.
The policy also includes access to classes at the school that are required for participation in a particular activity.
ORS 339.460 Home school students authorized to participate in interscholastic activities; conditions.
- Home school students shall not be denied by a school district the opportunity to participate in all interscholastic activities if the student fulfills the following conditions:
- The student must meet all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of:
- The school district’s school or class attendance requirements; and
- The class requirements of the voluntary association administering interscholastic activities.
- .
- The student must achieve a minimum score on an examination from the list adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to ORS 339.035. The examination shall be taken at the end of each school year (annual testing is only retried for students grade 9 and up, per page 75 of the OSAA handbook) and shall be used to determine eligibility for the following year. The minimum, composite test score that a student must achieve shall place the student at or above the 23rd percentile based on national norms. The parent or legal guardian shall submit the examination results to the school district; or
- A school district may adopt alternative requirements, in consultation with the parent or legal guardian of a home school student, that a student must meet to participate in interscholastic activities, including but not limited to a requirement that a student submit a portfolio of work samples to a school district committee for review to determine whether a student is eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.
- Any public school student who chooses to be home schooled must also meet the minimum standards as described in paragraph (b) of this subsection. The student may participate while awaiting examination results.
- Any public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a home school student for the duration of the school year in which the student becomes academically ineligible and for the following year. The student must take the required examinations at the end of the second year and meet the standards described in paragraph (b) of this subsection to become eligible for the third year.
- The home school student shall be required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related class or practice requirements, of other students participating in the interscholastic activity of the team or squad and shall be required to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad. The home school student must also comply with all public school requirements during the time of participation.
- A home school student participating in interscholastic activities must reside within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates.
- The student must meet all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of:
- As used in this section:
- “Board” means the State Board of Education.
- “Home school students” are those children taught by private teachers, parents or legal guardians as described in ORS 339.030.
- “Interscholastic activities” includes but is not limited to athletics, music, speech, and other related activities.
OAR 581-021-0033 Interscholastic Activities Eligibility Requirement for Home School Students
- (1) A home school student may participate in interscholastic activities in his or her resident district’s attendance area if the student meets all of the requirements of ORS 339.460 and:
- Achieves a composite test score that is not less than the 23rd percentile on any of the annual achievement tests listed in OAR 581-021-0026; and
- Submits the student’s composite test score to the district prior to participation in an interscholastic activity.
- Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) of this rule, any public school student who chooses to be home schooled may participate in interscholastic activities while awaiting test score results.
- A school district may adopt alternative requirements, in consultation with the parent or legal guardian of a home school student, that a student must meet to participate in interscholastic activities, including but not limited to a requirement that a student submit a portfolio of work samples to a school district committee for review to determine whether a student is eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.