October 30, 2024 Meeting Minutes - Accessing Extracurricular Activities

PALS Meeting Minutes

October 30, 2024 9:30 a.m.

Virtual Meeting using Zoom

Open Forum

Open Forum is an opportunity for participants to come together and discuss a variety of topics, offer resources, and ask questions related to special education.

Home School Rule & Extracurricular Activities

We often discuss the reactive nature of school districts as it relates to obtaining the needed services for IEPs and 504 Plans. As many families look to find other learning options for their children receiving special education services, today we discussed how this same mentality requires families to dig deep and know the requirements of a student's "Home School" as it relates to students being enrolled in a Charter School or being Homeschooled accessing extracurricular activities. State law indicates that Charter School and Homeschooled students have the right to participate equally in extracurricular activities like sports teams and clubs. This means, these students have the same access to fully participate in an activity as a student who is attending the Home School. To limit access to full participation would not adhere to the law.

Charter Schools

The Pennsylvania Charter School Law 24 P.S. §§ 17-1701-A - 17-1732-A section on Charter School students accessing Extracurricular Activities at their Home School states:

The CSL requires a charter school student's school district of residence to allow the student to participate in the school district's extracurricular activities if the student is able to fulfill the requirements of participation and the charter school does not provide the same extracurricular activity.

The requirements of participation shall apply equally to charter school students and students attending schools of the school district. The student's school district of residence must accept the charter school's written confirmation, which may include providing copies of the student's attendance record and grades, that the student has met the established standards for the extracurricular activity. Charter schools must inform parents that they must authorize release of such information, which may constitute the student's education record, in order for the resident school district to verify that their children are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.

School districts cannot limit participation of charter school students in extracurricular activities on the basis that the activity is fully enrolled with school district students. Charter school students must be given an equal opportunity to compete for spaces in extracurricular activities. School districts are not required to provide transportation for a charter school student to or from the extracurricular activity. There may be additional requirements that the district of residence and charter school need to consider if the student participating or seeking to participate in extracurricular activities is a student with a disability.

The school district of residence may charge the charter school for charter student participation in extracurricular activities, since these costs were part of the per-pupil payment that is paid to charter schools. This fee is on a cost basis and the school district of residence should neither lose nor make money.

The school district of residence may develop policies to establish in which school building charter school students may participate in extracurricular activities, such as the building closest to the charter school or the building the student would be assigned to if attending the public school district.

Additional information directly from a few virtual charter schools in Pennsylvania:

PA Virtual:

Our students may take part in many academic and social outings statewide each year. These include trips to museums, zoos, parks, and other community destinations. In addition, our students can sign up for our many clubs as well as participate in extracurricular activities at their local school districts.

CCA:

Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law allows a public cyber charter school student to participate in a school district’s sports programs and extracurricular activities if such activities are not offered by the charter school.

PALCS:

Yes, according to BEC 24 P.S. 17-1719-A (14,) students can take part in after-school programs offered by their home school district if PALCS does not offer them. ... When possible, PALCS will help students and parents to get the opportunity to take part in the after-school activities for which they are eligible.

Additional articles on the subject:

Cyber Charter School Students Shouldn’t Be Denied Access to Extracurriculars

written by Sharon Sedlar founder and CEO of PA Families for Education Choice.

Homeschooling

Pennsylvania Home Education Program Statute: 24 Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated 7 sect; 13-1327.1(f.1) on on Homeschooled students accessing Extracurricular Activities at their Home School states:

Homeschooled students meeting the same eligibility criteria as public school students may participate in extracurricular activities of their public school district of residence. Such activities include, but are not limited to clubs, musical ensembles, athletics, and theatrical productions.

Additionally...

Beginning January 1, 2006, the school district of residence shall permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to participate in any activity that is subject to the provisions of section 511, including, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, athletics and theatrical productions, provided that the child:

(i) Meets the eligibility criteria or their equivalent for participation in the activity that apply to students enrolled in the school district;(ii) Meets the tryout criteria or their equivalent for participation in the activity that apply to students enrolled in the school district; and

(iii) Complies with all policies, rules and regulations or their equivalent of the governing organization of the activity.

(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the school district of residence's program of interscholastic athletics, including varsity sports, shall be considered an activity and shall include all activities related to competitive sports contests, games, events or exhibitions involving individual students or teams of students whenever such activities occur between schools within the school district or between schools outside of the school district.

(3) Where the activity requires completion of a physical examination or medical test as a condition of participation and the school district of residence offers such physical examination or medical test to students enrolled in the school district, the school district shall permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to access such physical examination or medical test. The school district shall publish the dates and times of such physical examination or medical test in a publication of general circulation in the school district and on its publicly accessible Internet website.

(4) A board of school directors may adopt a policy to implement the requirements of this subsection. Such policy shall only apply to participation in activities and shall not conflict with any provisions of this section.

((f.1) added Nov. 10, 2005, P.L.374, No.67)

(f.2) (1) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year and each school year thereafter, the school district of residence shall develop policies and procedures to permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to participate, on the same basis as other students enrolled in the school district, in any cocurricular activity that merges extracurricular activities with a required academic course, including, but not limited to, band or orchestra, and must permit a child who is enrolled in a home education program to participate in academic courses equaling up to at least one quarter of the school day for full-time students, pursuant to the policies and procedures of the school district of residence, on the same basis as other students enrolled in the school district, provided that the child:

(i) meets the eligibility criteria or their equivalent for participation in the cocurricular or academic course that apply to students enrolled full time in the school district;

(ii) meets the prerequisite criteria or their equivalent for participation in the cocurricular or academic course that apply to students enrolled full time in the school district; and

(iii) complies with all policies, rules and regulations or their equivalent of the school district of residence.

Additional articles on the subject:

Summary of Changes Starting in the 2023-24 School Year from Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

RAE Trunk-or-Treat Event

PALS was delighted to participate in River Academy of Excellence's inaugural Trunk-or-Treat event on Saturday, October 19, 2024. We collaborated with John's Funky Inflatables to decorate the PALS trunk. This community gathering was a fun filled time of love and caring for children.

Meeting Topic Survey

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Family Meet-ups

Join in on the fun Saturday November 9, 2024 from 10:00am–12:00pm at the Sharpsburg Community Library. We'll bring the all the supplies, you bring your kids, sibs, and friends. This is a great opprotunity to meet other families in your community and learn more about PALS. This is a free event!