Homeschool participation policies on Aug. agenda

Legislative action from Jefferson City is creating a long to-do list for school districts across the state, and the Willow Springs R-IV school district will be solidifying compliance details at the August meeting, Superintendent Dr. Marty Spence said.

 

A new law prohibiting the exclusion of homeschool and other nontraditional students from participating in public school sports and extracurricular activities is effective as of August 28, 2025. 

In a memo to all participating districts, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) says compliance is not optional, but will be providing guidance as the new law breaks with a century of policy.

 

“Throughout MSHHSAA’s 100-year history, participation in interscholastic athletics and activities required that students be enrolled full-time in the member school,” says the release. 

 

In Willow Springs, the school board and administration are, “choosing to try to make the change a positive one,” said Spence on July 29, despite “concerns about how it could be abused.”

 

District policies will be approved in August with general information provided to the public at that time, but after that, the best way for non-traditional students to communicate their interests in sports or extracurriculars is to contact the school. 

 

Spence said he expects any challenges to present themselves as “single-case scenarios.” 

 

“At the end of the day, we’re here to do everything we can to help kids,” Spence said.

 

Sports and extracurricular activities are both MSHSAA-sponsored activities, and non-traditional participation will look different for each.

 

The new law allows for schools to require enrollment in required coursework for extracurriculars. In Willow Springs, band and agriculture activities require a class. Non-traditional students will be required to enroll for these classes in order to participate in the Bear Pride band or FFA, and they will follow all the enrollment policies and procedures required by the school for full-time students, such as providing immunization records and transcripts.

 

Sports that do not require companion courses will not require enrollment at all. Discipline and practice attendance regulation is allowed under the new law, and tryouts would be too. At this time, Willow Springs does not hold tryouts for their sports teams, and Spence said there is, “no intention” to implement tryouts. 

 

Academic parity will be required, but parents remain the educational authority over homeschool and non-traditional students. Exactly what proving that parity will look like remains to be determined. 

 

There may not be much demand for homeschool participation in Willow Springs. Spence said he does not hear much feedback about a desire for participation from the local homeschool families. 

 

Another legislative action this year that enforces significant regulatory compliance on all Missouri schools is SB 68. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) refers to SB 68 as “wide-ranging education legislation,” which “will help to provide a safe and undistracted learning environment.” It touches on emergency operations plans, and other safety criteria, a statewide ban on mobile phones in schools, new assessment metrics for grades 3 -8, and extending the number of hours retired teachers can work as substitutes. 

 

The school board will consider and vote on policy and procedure updates on August 11 during their regular meeting.