MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Critics are blasting legislators after the state’s budget committee passed a surprise motion last week that would allow private, home-schooled and online charter students to participate in public school district athletics and activities.
The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee passed a motion early Wednesday morning that included the plan. The plan wasn’t addressed in the meeting.
“For that to be done in a sneaky, behind the scenes fashion and passed at 1:30 in the morning without any discussion … that’s a problem,” said Larry Kaseman, executive director of the Wisconsin Parents Association.
While non-public school students in some cities are currently involved in activities or co-op sports teams, the provision would extend the opportunity to students across the state to be involved in their resident district’s public school activities and athletics. Students enrolled in charter and private schools wouldn’t be able to join a public school sports team if their school offers the sport. Students involved in the public school programs and activities would be subject to the same academic and disciplinary standards.
But the additions in the proposal went a step too far, Kaseman said. Kaseman, head of the home-schooling advocacy group, said Rep. Bob Kulp, R-Stratford, reached out to the association in February to gauge their support for the measure. Kaseman sent a reply letter to Kulp in February that said the association opposed the measure because it could lead to increased government regulation of home-schooled students.
“We are opposed to this and have been for the past 15 years,” Kaseman said. “Most home-schoolers in the state don’t want this.”
Kulp didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday.
Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Deputy Director Wade Labecki said members of the organization, which regulates high school sports, have voiced their frustration about the measure. He said the association was developed to help students graduate on time, but fears that public school students who see home-schooled students playing on their teams would be less motivated to continue their education.
“The reason for sports in schools is to keep kids in school … it’s the carrot they have to keep kids in school,” Labecki said. “This is a way to get them out the door and still play.”
Stephen Schiell, Amery school district administrator, said he, too, opposed the proposal.
“That is going backward on what high school activities and athletics are supposed to be about,” Schiell said. “And it’s frustrating.”
And while students from outside the district would be able to participate in district activities, they wouldn’t contribute to the district’s per-pupil budget, Schiell said.
“Any student going to another district (through open enrollment) or not going to our schools hurts the district tremendously,” Schiell said.
Schiell said public school students could also be displaced from their teams or activities as students from outside the district join their teams.
“They could be bumping a whole lot of people,” Schiell said. “Parents could find their child watching from the bench.”
The measure is not final. The budget is subject to approval in both chambers, then moves to Gov. Scott Walker for his approval.
___
Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bydanaferguson
Please read our comment policy before commenting.