Homeschoolers in public school sports

[Unregistered]

I am looking for further information in regard to enrolling my homeschooled daughter in the public (middle school) sports program in our local district. I am aware of the high school sports eligibility requirements through MHSAA for high school - it is 60%. I am asking why this requirement would be quoted or enforced in Middle School? They are not part of MHSAA and it is a great opportunity to encourage sports participation.

I was also told she could not be enrolled in band. However, I believe my daughter is allowed by state law to be enrolled in any non-essential elective course. This would make her eligible to participate in band next year regardless of the percentage of classes she enrolls in. Our middle school allows for parochial school students to enroll, but not homeschoolers. According to the Michigan Department of Education Pupil Accounting Manual:

"A nonpublic pupil who attends a private, denominational or a parochial school or a pupil that is home schooled may be enrolled on a part-time basis in grades 1-12 in nonessential elective courses provided by a public school."

It seems to me that at the middle school level sports could also be considered "nonessential" and "elective."

Can anyone provide me with any advice/resources on how to proceed with our school district? Thanks in advance!

[Lisa D.]

Good Morning

I am sorry to hear about your frustrations. We have been home schooling on and off for about 13 years, so I have experienced some of what you're going through. We are in Macomb County, Chippewa Valley Schools.

For most of that time I thought that, while state law allows home schoolers non-cores in school, it is really up to the principal at the school. We began in grK with non-cores and Principal A. He said that he couldn't offer the teacher-student ratio that home schooling does and wanted to afford my child the best of both worlds by having him with local friends for fun classes like gym, etc. We went to class parties and participated in Field Day, too.

Unfortunately, by Gr2 he transferred to a better school and we got Principal B. At our first meeting, his words to me were, "How can you take money away from a district that so badly needs it by not having your child attend our school full time?" When he'd be getting part time funding for a student that would be there for a mere one hour per day, I just didn't understand his position. It all went downhill from there.

That child is now in gr11. We have a neighbor on the Board of Education that has been bugging me for years to enroll him because my kid is awesome. I also have three other children, however, that he wants me to enroll, at least part time. You see, all of my kids are awesome... and he wants the money. I explained my past relationship with Principal B, who is still at our district school. He said that the guy was an idiot and that he doesn't have the authority to push us out like that. It's state law and not up to the principal. He said that I should have taken it to a District Board of Education meeting. So there's one piece of advice.

When I said that I just didn't want to deal with the negativity, he said to simply school of choice to another school with a more receptive principal. So there's a second piece of advice. That doesn't put my kids with others from our neighborhood, however, to form local friendships so I choose to stay with other home schooling families.

My third offer for a course of action is, actually, a co-op. We are in the Center Line Public Schools Home School Partnership (CLPSHSP). It is a public school district getting part time enrollment dollars, and home schoolers getting electives paid for. But we are NOT taking electives in any school, so this may not be what you're looking for. We have sports paid for, but they are club teams like Upward Bound Football, Goldfish swim team, lacrosse, and gymnastics. There are many in our co-op that take instrument lessons; my kids take voice. My kids are in competitive sport, but not for our local school so there are no stadium lights or Spring Sports Banquets. No matter where you live, you can be a part time virtual student at CLPS HSP, I'm pretty sure. You have to complete one online assignment per class per week, and have a weekly mentor contact, and show up for Count Day once each semester (may not be possible for you). Kim Chambers is the director there and she's wonderful. They've grown tremendously, so staff has increased and they are all wonderful and supportive of home schooling.

That's sort of a plug because I love the program, but from my perspective, the public school districts are seeing home school numbers and they are trying to get that money. There are several Districts with various forms of partnerships. Oxford is another one; I can't remember but they might be full time virtual. Still, if you live in that area, you'd be a virtual student and thus eligible for Band with no harassment. So, my fourth piece of advice is to explore nearby Districts for creative programs developing out there.