House OKs Tim Tebow Act to allow home-schoolers into public school athletics

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Alabama Statehouse

Rep. Mike Ball’s proposal to allow children in home schools to participate in athletics at their zoned public school passed the House on Thursday. House Bill 236, known as the Tim Tebow Act, allows children taught at home to play on interscholastic teams so long as they follow the same behavior and academic standards as public school students.

That provision was a sticking point in the debate over allowing virtual schools in Alabama. During floor debate on Thursday, Rep. Mary Moore revisited her concerns that children educated in home schools would be allowed to “take advantage” of the public school system in order to get college scholarships.

The bill is named for Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow’s parents home-schooled all five of their children from kindergarten through high school. Tebow then received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida.