Home-schooling parent wants extracurricular policy changed

ADAMS CENTER — Families that home-school children in the South Jefferson Central School District are requesting that the school board review its policy regarding the inclusion of home-schooled children in extracurricular activities.

Christine H. McConnell, Adams Center, presented the school board with information pertaining to the laws and rights regarding home-schooled children. She said she recently became a home-school parent to her daughter who is in the fifth grade. Hers is one of five home-schooling families in the district.

Ms. McConnell said she became aware of the district's policy excluding home-schooled children from extracurricular activities and clubs and is requesting that the district amend its policy to include them.

"What I am bringing to you represents the family and community perspective" of the mission statement of the South Jefferson Central School District, she said.

According to the state Education Department, a school is not required by law to include home-schooled children in sports, band or other school-sponsored activities.

The policy on the SED's Web site says it is "recommended that each board of education establish a policy to this effect."

The site also says that home-schooled students be "allowed to use school facilities provided that there is mutual agreement on the part of all involved parties."

Jamie A. Moesel, superintendent of South Jefferson Central School District, said the district's policy for home-schooled children has been in place for more than 20 years.

"At South Jeff, our policy has been not to allow home-schooled children to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities," she said.

According to the state, whether to allow home-schooled children to participate in school activities has been the district's decision. Mrs. Moesel said when families decide to take on the education responsibility for their children, they become the complete education system.

"Families become their own school district," she said. "You design all of it, including the extracurricular activities."

Indian River Central School District does not allow home-schooled children to participate in extracurricular activities.

Watertown City School District and Belleville Henderson Central School District do not have policies in place regarding home-schooled children's participation in school activities.

Times staff writer Jamie Munks contributed to this report.