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Committee Approves Regola’s Home Schoolers’ Bill
Legislation Would Allow
Participation in Extracurricular Activities
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate Education Committee today approved Senate Bill 361, a proposal by Senator
Bob Regola to open up extracurricular activities to students enrolled in home
education programs. This bill has been introduced in various forms for the
last 10 years, and due to the tireless efforts of Senator Regola, it will now
move forward to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
“I am pleased that the
Education Committee acted to move this important bill forward to the full Senate
for consideration and bring a level of fairness to all of Pennsylvania’s
students,” Senator Regola said. “The parents of home schoolers pay
property taxes just like everyone else and their children should have equal
access, just like everyone else.”
Under Senator Regola’s
legislation, the state Public School Code would be amended to give home schooled
students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as
clubs, music ensembles, sports and theatrical productions.
According to Department of
Education statistics from the 2002-03 School Year, a total of 24,415 students
were enrolled in home education programs. Only two (Austin Area and
Clairton City) of Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts reported no home education
students in 2002-03.
“We are seeing increasing
numbers of families opting for home education programs and, fortunately, we are
also seeing an increasing number of school districts that are allowing these
young people to participate in extracurricular activities,” Senator Regola said.
“My bill targets the nearly 240 districts that do not allow these students to
participate in activities.” The Department of Education found that 241
districts (48.1 percent) allowed home schooled students to participate in
curricular programs and 265 districts (52.9 percent) allow them to participate
in extracurricular activities during the 2002-03 School Year.
“Now that Senate Bill 361
has been moved to the Senate floor, it can receive the fair up or down vote it
deserves,” said Senator Regola. “I want to thank Senator Rhoades, Chairman
of the Senate Education Committee, for moving this bill forward.”
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