AAA votes to allow home-schooled athletes in 2013-14

David Harten
August 1, 2012

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Activities Association voted in favor of allowing home-schooled athletes to play on athletic teams at schools sanctioned by the governing body at the AAA's annual meeting on Wednesday.

The vote got past the necessary 50-percent vote and will go into place for the 2013-14 school year.

Although the rule comes with certain stipulations. Among them, all athletes that fall into this category must be approved by the school superintendent after submitting paperwork, by July 1, to be allowed to play for a certain school. The superintendent must approve or deny the request within 30 days of application.

A student also must submit to an aptitude test to determine that he or she at the academic level concurrent with their age group. They must score average or better on the SAT-10 Assessment in math, science, English and social studies.

In addition, the student is also not guaranteed to play, but rather guaranteed to try out for a team. To be listed as enrolled, the student must be regularly attending one course per day.

The student is only allowed to play for the public school in the district for which they live in as well.

Read more about this story in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.