Posted by Howard Richman on November 07 2005 at 17:58:18:
Governor Rendell has until November 10 to veto Senate Bill 361 which would give homeschoolers access to public school sports sports, clubs, musical ensembles, and theatrical productions. If he doesn´t veto it, it will become law on November 11 with or without his signature.
You have at most three more days to influence the Governor. You can do so by doing any or all of the following:
(1) Beginning January 1, 2006, the school district of residence shall permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to participate in any activity that is subject to the provisions of Section 511 including, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, athletics and theatrical productions provided that the child:The Governor´s staff will tell him how many phone calls and e-mails he receives on each side of the bill, not what the e-mails or phone calls say. Since he wants to win re-election, the number of calls and e-mails will influence his decision.(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the school district of residence´s program of interscholastic athletics, including varsity sports, shall be considered an activity and shall include all activities related to competitive sports contests, games, events or exhibitions involving individual students or teams of students whenever such activities occur between schools within the school district or between schools outside of the school district.
- meets the eligibility criteria, or their equivalent, for participation in the activity that apply to students enrolled in the school district;
- meets the try-out criteria, or their equivalent, for participation in the activity that apply to students enrolled in the school district; and
- complies with all policies, rules and regulations, or their equivalent, of the governing organization of the activity.
(3) Where the activity requires completion of a physical examination or medical test as a condition of participation and the school district of residence offers such physical examination or medical test to students enrolled in the school district, the school district shall permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to access such physical examination or medical test. The school district shall publish the dates and times of such physical examination or medical test in a publication of general circulation in the school district and on its publicly accessible Internet website.
(4) A board of school directors may adopt a policy to implement the requirements of this subsection. Such policy shall only apply to participation in activities and shall not conflict with any provisions of this section.
We may never again have a chance to pass a bill that would give us these new options. Even if your family never plans to participate in any public school activities, write the e-mail and make the phone call to give these options to your homeschooling friends. You need to act right away, or it will be too late. And get your friends and family to do the same!
Sincerely,
Howard B. Richman, co-editor,
Pennsylvania Homeschoolers newsletter