Can homeschoolers play public school sports?
The "Tebow law" question, state by state, with only the rules we have read at the source.
Some states let homeschooled students try out for public school teams by statute, some leave it to each district, and a few bar it. This table lists states whose statute or athletic association we read, with the rule, the link and the date checked. States not listed are not checked yet, so ask your athletic association.
Checked October 29, 2026.
This is a plain-words summary, not legal advice. Laws change: check your state's current law (each state page links to the statute) and its education department before you act.
Which states let homeschoolers play on public school teams?
16 states are checked so far. Each row links to the source, and gives the date we read it. Rules change, and an athletic association's own rules also apply, so ask the school and your state association before a season.
| State | Access | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes, by state law | A homeschooled child who lives in a public school's attendance area must be allowed to try out for its interscholastic activities, with the same registration, fee, eligibility and conduct rules as enrolled students. A child who was enrolled in a school earlier that year can't take part for the rest of that school year. | Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802.01 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Florida | Yes, by state law | A home education student may take part in extracurricular activities at a public school in their own district if they follow the home education law, show progress in every subject (for example, test scores above the 35th percentile) and meet the same standards as other students. | Florida Statutes 1006.15 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Georgia | Yes, by state law | The Dexter Mosely Act lets home study students in grades 6 to 12 take part in extracurricular and interscholastic activities in their resident public school system, with notice and course enrollment requirements. | Georgia Department of Education: Home school overview (July 2025) (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Idaho | Yes, by state law | A home school student may join nonacademic public school activities at the school whose attendance area they live in, after showing grade-level academic proficiency on a state test, a portfolio or a nationally normed test. | Idaho Code 33-203 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Iowa | Yes, by state law | On a parent's request, a child in competent private instruction is also registered in the public school (dual enrollment) and may take part in its extracurricular activities on the same basis as public school children. | Iowa Code 299A.8 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Minnesota | Yes, by state law | The school board must let resident pupils taught in a home school take part fully in extracurricular activities on the same basis as public school students. | Minnesota Statutes 123B.49 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| New Hampshire | Yes, by state law | Home educated pupils have access to the district's cocurricular programs, which include athletics. The district's policy can't be stricter for them than for its own resident pupils. | New Hampshire RSA 193:1-c (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| New Jersey | Up to each district | The law does not require a local school board to let a child taught at home take part in extracurricular activities or sports. Each board decides. | New Jersey Department of Education: Home schooling questions and answers (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| North Dakota | Yes, by state law | A child in home education may take part in extracurricular activities through the school district of residence (or an approved nonpublic school, if it agrees), under the same standards as full-time students. | North Dakota Century Code 15.1-23-16 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Ohio | Yes, by state law | A home-educated student must be given the chance to take part in any extracurricular activity at the district school they would otherwise attend, with the same non-academic and fee rules as other students. | Ohio Revised Code 3313.5312 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Oregon | Yes, by state law | A district may not keep a homeschooled student out of interscholastic activities if the student meets the district's eligibility rules and scores at or above the 23rd percentile on an approved test (or meets another standard the district agrees with the parent). | Oregon Revised Statutes 339.460 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Pennsylvania | Yes, by state law | The school district of residence must let a child in a home education program take part in activities such as clubs, musical groups, athletics (including varsity sports) and theater, if the child meets the same eligibility criteria and follows the activity's rules. | Pennsylvania Public School Code, 24 P.S. 13-1327.1 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| South Carolina | Yes, by state law | A district may not keep a home school student (homeschooled for a full academic year first) out of interscholastic activities at the school whose attendance area they live in, if they meet eligibility rules and tell the superintendent in writing before the season. | South Carolina Code 59-63-100 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| South Dakota | Yes, by state law | Each public school district must allow a child in alternative instruction to take part in athletics, fine arts or activities in the district where the child lives. | South Dakota Codified Laws 13-36-7 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Texas | Yes, unless the district opts out | Under SB 401, districts must allow homeschool students in UIL activities unless the school board votes to opt out. If the zoned school opts out, the student may take part at the nearest school that allows it. Homeschoolers follow the same rules, and show academic proficiency on a nationally recognized test to be eligible in the first six weeks. | University Interscholastic League (UIL): Homeschool FAQ, updated 24 Sep 2026 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
| Wisconsin | Yes, by state law | A school board must let a resident pupil in a home-based private educational program take part in interscholastic athletics on the same basis as its enrolled pupils. The program certifies that the pupil meets the board's age, academic and conduct standards. | Wisconsin Statutes 118.133 (checked Oct 29, 2026) |
What about the other states?
Not checked yet: we publish only rules we read at the source. 16 states are in the table. For the others, your state's law page may have a line, and your state high school athletic association's eligibility rules are the place to look.
What do these rules usually ask?
- Living in the school's attendance area (Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina and others).
- Showing academic eligibility, often with a test score or portfolio (Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Texas).
- Telling the district in writing before the season (South Carolina).
- The same conduct and tryout rules as other students. Access is a chance to try out, not a place on the team.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802.01 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Florida Statutes 1006.15 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Georgia Department of Education: Home school overview (July 2025) (checked October 29, 2026)
- Idaho Code 33-203 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Iowa Code 299A.8 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Minnesota Statutes 123B.49 (checked October 29, 2026)
- New Hampshire RSA 193:1-c (checked October 29, 2026)
- New Jersey Department of Education: Home schooling questions and answers (checked October 29, 2026)
- North Dakota Century Code 15.1-23-16 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Ohio Revised Code 3313.5312 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Oregon Revised Statutes 339.460 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Pennsylvania Public School Code, 24 P.S. 13-1327.1 (checked October 29, 2026)
- South Carolina Code 59-63-100 (checked October 29, 2026)
- South Dakota Codified Laws 13-36-7 (checked October 29, 2026)
- University Interscholastic League (UIL): Homeschool FAQ, updated 24 Sep 2026 (checked October 29, 2026)
- Wisconsin Statutes 118.133 (checked October 29, 2026)