By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
At the last regular Elmore County School Board meeting, Supt. Richard Dennis recommended a proposed revision to the Student Handbook/Code of Conduct. This allows any homeschool/non ECBOE student to register to participate in extra-curricular and/or co-curricular activities. The requirement is that the student must be eligible and maintain participation requirements. A fee for participation may be required.
The board voted to accept the recommendations.
Prior to the vote, Dennis said, “I would like to go ahead and put it in place, so that we can work out the way we will process and procedurally handle it (such as) registration guidelines.”
Dennis said that there was a review of the policy due to the Tim Tebow Bill that passed several years ago. It allowed athletes from homeschool to participate in public schools. By law, Dennis said the schools have to allow JROTC as well, and they also accepted band students from outside the school. However, with the passage of new policy, it will open more areas up to chose who want to participate in classes and activities.
“By doing this, we would actually open up the opportunity for everyone to potentially apply in a category or area that they would like to participate. It could be in an extra- curricular setting, or a co-curricular activity,” he said.
Dennis said he has looked at the liability aspect of this as well, which was a concern.
“We do driver’s education the same way,” Dennis said. “To use it as an example, one of the parents that I talked to discussed the fact of actually using this credit in their home school association, which they could do just like any other student. We have students that come to us in the summertime (for driver’s ed) and their school or system may not be offering it. They want to get it done in the summer, so it does not conflict, and knock them out of a course that they want to take during the course of the school year.”
Homeschool or other students could register for the activity of their choice, get their transcript and it would get sent back to their base school, homeschool and counted as part of the program. Dennis said he would encourage parents check with their school, homeschool or other program and make sure the credit would be accepted.
“Right now, the biggest program I think we would see participation in is band,” Dennis said. “The goal is to get this passed so that we can work out the kinks as we start next year and get everything in place.”
Dennis said the website would be updated under registration.
“I really think opening the door, you will have a lot more participation and perhaps previously due to the STEM programming we are doing, trying to develop across the county. Robotics, is very popular.”
Dennis said schools that have strong theatre programs could also be very popular, as homeschool or other students may not have that opportunity in their regular school or association.
Dennis said there are already similar protocols across the state. The issue is the students have to be transported, and the county is not doing that. That would be a factor if parents want their child to participate.
