ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ED DPA 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-13-1-0

SB 1564: nonpublic school students; interscholastic activities

S/E: private school students; interscholastic activities

Sponsor: Senator Kaiser, LD 2

Committee on Education

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SB 1564

Overview

Allows a qualified private school student to try out for interscholastic activities on behalf of a public school.

History

If a homeschooled child resides within a public school's attendance area, the child must be allowed to try out for interscholastic activities on behalf of the public school in the same manner as the public school's students. Statute requires that the interscholastic activity policies for both homeschooled children and public school students be consistent. A school district is forbidden from contracting with a private entity that supervises interscholastic activities if the private entity prohibits the participation of homeschooled children.

To participate in public school interscholastic activities, the person instructing a homeschooled child must submit written verification that provides whether the child is: 1) passing each course or subject being taught; and 2) maintaining satisfactory progress towards advancement or promotion. A homeschooled child who was previously enrolled in a public, private or charter school is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the remainder of that school year (A.R.S. § 15-802.01).

A private school is a nonpublic institution (other than a child's home) where academic instruction is provided for at least the same number of days and hours each year as a public school (A.R.S. § 15-802).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteAuthorizes a qualified private school student to try out for interscholastic activities on behalf of a public school in the same manner as a student enrolled in the public school. (Sec. 1)

2.   Requires a public school's interscholastic activity policies and requirements for qualified private school students and enrolled students to be consistent.  (Sec. 1)

3.   Instructs the parent of a qualified private school student who tries out for an interscholastic activity to submit written verification to the public school that the student is:

a)   receiving a passing grade in each course or subject; and

b)   maintaining satisfactory progress towards advancement or promotion. (Sec. 1)

4.   States a qualified private school student who was previously enrolled in a school district, charter school or different private school is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the remainder of that school year. (Sec. 1)

5.   Restricts a school district from contracting with a private entity that supervises interscholastic activities if the private entity prohibits qualified private school students from participating in interscholastic activities at public, private or charter schools. (Sec. 1)

6.   Defines qualified private school student as a student who:

a)   resides within a public school's attendance area; and

b)   is educated in a private school with fewer than 100 students in the 9th-12th grades and that does not offer the interscholastic activity for which the student is trying out. (Sec. 1)

c)    

d)    

e)   ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

f)                         SB 1564

g)   Initials CH       Page 0 Education

h)    

i)   ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------