LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION

News release

FRANKFORT— Homeschool students would be able to participate in state-sponsored interscholastic sports under a bill that has cleared the Kentucky House.

Under House Bill 290, which passed the House recently 76-8, homeschooled individuals or teams would be able to participate in any state-sponsored interscholastic athletic sport in Kentucky as long as the homeschool students and their coaches comply with set requirements.

The bill would not allow homeschool students to participate in sanctioned conferences or tournaments or be eligible for championship titles or other recognition sponsored by the state.

HB 290 sponsor and House Education Committee Chair Rep. John Carney, R-Campbellsville, said the bill would allow homeschool students to stay in Kentucky rather than having to go out of state to compete against other schools. Homeschool students could play against state-sponsored teams anywhere in the state should the bill become law, said Carney.

“We have a lot of cooperatives in the state that are going to Tennessee, Indiana … because they cannot find a place to participate in Kentucky,” said Carney.

HB 290 is based on talks with both homeschools and the KHSAA (Kentucky High School Athletic Association), the agency designated by the Kentucky Board of Education to oversee high school athletics in the Commonwealth.

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.