Home Schoolers Eye Sports
The 3,778 county students who are home-schooled want to join Frederick County Public Schools' athletic programs, according to County Council member Tony Chmelik (R-Dist.2).
Chmelik proposed writing legislation for a pilot program to permit home-schoolers to participate in both athletics and academic extra-curricular activities in public schools throughout Frederick County at the Oct. 11 Board of Education meeting. Frederick County Public Schools restricts home schoolers from participating in school-sponsored activities, although Maryland law permits them to join the same in private schools. However, it was far from clear how the BOE would respond to this suggestion, though President Brad Young did indicate that the BOE had expressed an interest, but needed more information. “We will consider the pros and cons," he said.
“I see this as a county issue," Chmelik said. "If you, the Board of Education, approve of legislation being written, we could get a state delegation to write draft legislation for the Board’s edit and comment.” He added that his original goal was to include this legislation in a package to be sent to the state by December. BOE member Joy Schaeffer responded that the BOE doesn't need to make a decision on his timeline. "I want to be fair to FCPS students," she said. [Chmelik, pictured right, courtesy FC Govt]
“We need to look at current regulations,” Superintendent Terry Alban said. “There are a lot of complexities. We don’t want to draft legislation only to find out the BOE has no interest and doesn’t want to see it. This is a tricky communications piece. “
BOE member Michael Bunitsky, a former FCPS curriculum specialist for secondary social studies, says he has had years of experience in overseeing home-schooler participation in such activities as Mock Trial, Model UN, and Student History Day. He knows how tricky the arrangements to include home-schoolers can be. Chmelik did suggest that all participating home-schoolers should be able to prove residency and attend activities only at the high school in their feeder pattern.
But Bunitsky had other concerns.
Bunitsky said throughout his teaching career he had offered home schoolers an “opportunity to participate.” He pointed out that FCPS requires that all FCPS students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average with no “F” grades to participate in school-sponsored, extra-curricular activities (athletics, student clubs/organizations, class/club officers) . FCPS also stipulates that only those high school students enrolled full time are eligible to participate, although the school principals may request an exemption.
Participation also requires that FCPS students arrive at school no later than one and a half hours after the beginning of the school day in order to participate in an evening event. Other concerns around participation by home-schoolers are for residency. Bunitsky said, in his experience, students can change residency by giving the address of a relative with whom they are currently staying.
“Staff needs to pay attention to the health records for all these activities,” Bunitsky continued. “Academic eligibility requires student records such as immunizations which must be recorded and updated annually. For 10 or 15 students this is not a big deal, but if we get a significant number of home- schoolers participating, that’s going to take up staff time.”
Under Code of Maryland Regulations or COMAR, a director of student services is responsible for coordinating and certifying compliance with state standards for home instruction. If participation in extra-curricular activities is included, the question remains as to who would provide the necessary oversight and whether the additional time required would merit hiring additional staff. Bunitsky noted athletic programs do not generate funds beyond athletic fees. “Cost is a factor,” Bunitsky stated. Another issue raised was liability insurance, a matter to be referred to the FCPS attorney. The impact on dual enrollment where public school students can take college level classes from a local community college in order to gain credit towards a high school diploma was also discussed.
If a significant number of Frederick County home-schoolers were to choose to participate in FCPS extra-curricular activities, the process to inclusion still remains murky. “Aren’t we putting the cart before the horse? I am not sure what we are doing," BOE Vice President, Liz Barrett said.
Others were more upbeat. Chmelik suggested the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association could simply change the COMAR regulations, requiring no legislation.
“I am in favor of this option,” BOE member Colleen Cusimano said. “We now have virtual school along with other models for education that encourage lifelong learning. So you are getting an education where you can. We’ve always had monitors for home schoolers. Why would we not be sharing services?”
