Bill Would Allow Charter Students to Participate in District Extracurricular Activities

SPARTANBURG, SC - Should charter school and home school students be allowed to participate in their home district's extracurricular activities? That’s an issue legislators are taking on this session. On Tuesday, the House Education Subcommittee met to discuss a new charter school bill.

Fifth grader Grace Rubenzer attends the Spartanburg Charter School. It’s K thru five now, but will extend through sixth grade next year and ninth grade the following year; but right now, they don't have one of the extra-curricular programs she is interested in. "I like volleyball a lot," says Grace.

A newly proposed charter school bill, if passed, would mean a charter school student would be eligible for participation in all extra-curricular activities, state competitions and awards programs at the school district in which they live. Dr. Chuck White, Head of School for Spartanburg Charter School says, "Our point is...our students are enrolled here. Next year in seventh grade, if we have a seventh grader, in two years, we will have seventh graders, and they want to play for Carver or if they want to go up to Boiling Springs to play for their home school, they should be able to." Neither Spartanburg Districts 2 or 7 responded to our inquiry about whether they support the bill; but Spartanburg District 5 Superintendent Dr. Scott Turner weighed in saying, “Parents who have placed their children in charter schools, private schools, or choose to school them at home have made a choice they feel is best for their child. In some cases they learn that these educational settings cannot offer the varied and excellent curricular and extracurricular programs offered by public schools. It is gratifying to know that our state legislators realize that public schools offer superior programs and want everyone to have access to them. I believe it should be a local educational decision rather than a dictate from the state. However, if the state wants every child to benefit from the excellent programs offered in public schools, the students should be required to meet all of the eligibility requirements set forth by the South Carolina high school league, local district, school, and team to participate. I also believe they should be enrolled in the school for accountability purposes.”

Grace isn't sure if the opportunity to play volleyball will determine whether later attends school in Spartanburg District 2 or continues with Spartanburg Charter School; but she is already considering her options. She says, "It depends. I really like this school, but if when I grow up, if I think my career might depend on that or I’m going to do something when I grow up, that has something to do with volleyball, I would probably talk to my parents about "

Most Upstate school districts did not respond to News Channel 7’s inquiry as to whether they support the bill, but two did say there are logistical issues that need to be fined tuned first.
They aren't against the bill but cited eligibility concerns like Dr. Turner. One district expressed concerns about discipline because the district coach or advisor would not have authority over the charger school student. Another said he would not want a school district to be able to recruit students out of their district for sports under the guise of him or her being a charter or home school student.

The bill also includes funding issues.

Charter School Research: http://www.charterschoolresearch.com/

South Carolina Charter School Act: http://www.sccharter.com/act.asp

Public School School, SC Dept of Education: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Innovation-and-Support/Public-School-Choice/CharterSchools/