SB 689 — Creating WV Homeschool Student Athletics Participation Act

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee Substitute for Senate Bill 689 ByBYSENATORGRADY Senator[Reported GradyFebruary [Introduced26, January2026, 30,from 2026;the Committee on Education] CS for SB 689 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18-2-25f, relating to the creation of the West Virginia Homeschool Student Athletics Participation Act;

referredproviding tofor the Committee on Education] Intr SB 689 2026R3546 A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2-25e of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reducing the grade levels in which a studentshort istitle; allowed to transfer schools at least one time without losing academic eligibility to grades nine and 10.

providing for a purpose;

setting forth definitions;

providing conditions under which homeschool students who are participants of a homeschool athletic organization may participate in regular-season interscholastic athletic contests against West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission member schools and additional parameters for such participation;

and setting forth West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission responsibilities for implementation and oversight.

§18-2-25e.§18-2-25f.

AthleticWest eligibilityVirginia ofHomeschool transferStudent students.Athletics Participation Act.

(a) TheShort Westtitle. Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall modify its rule, prior to the 2023-2024 2026-2027 school year, to allow students to transfer schools and retain athletic eligibility at least one time during a student's four first two years of secondary school, inclusive of grades nine through 12 and 10.

The— WestThis Virginiasection Secondaryshall Schoolbe Activitiesknown Commissionas maythe promulgateWest anVirginia emergencyHomeschool rule,Student ifAthletics necessary,Participation toAct. modify its rule prior to the 2023-2024 2026-2027 school year.

(b) NothingPurpose. in this section is intended to limit or restrict a student transferring more than one time for the following reasons:

(1)— The purpose of this section is to allow homeschool students who are participants of organized homeschool athletic teams to participate in interscholastic athletic competitions with West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission'sCommission ability(WVSSAC) tomember makeschools eligibilitywhile determinationsensuring onthat ahomeschool case-by-caseteams basisdo whennot warrantedaffect byofficial aWVSSAC student'srankings, circumstancesstandings, inor accordancepostseason withplay and that the Westparticipation Virginiais Secondaryvoluntary Schoolfor Activitiesthe Commission'sWVSSAC rules;member school.

or(c) (2)Definitions. For any other reason permitted under the rules of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

NOTE:— For the purposes of this section:

The"Homeschool purposestudent" ofmeans this bill is to reduce the grade levels in which a student isreceiving allowedan toeducation transferin schoolsaccordance atwith least§18-8- one1(c), time(m), withoutor losing(n) academicof eligibilitythis tocode gradesthrough ninea andhome 10.instruction program.

Strike-throughs"Homeschool indicateorganization" languagemeans thata wouldrecognized beassociation strickenor fromleague aof headinghomeschool orteams thethat presentprovides lawoversight and underscoringgovernance indicatesfor newhomeschool languagesports thatprograms. would be added.

"WVSSAC" means the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, the governing body for secondary school interscholastic athletics in the state.

CS for SB 689 "Member school" means a public or private school that is a recognized member of the WVSSAC.

(d) Participation of homeschool organizations in interscholastic sports.

— (1) Homeschool students who are participants in a homeschool athletic organization shall be permitted to participate in regular-season interscholastic athletic contests against WVSSAC member schools if:

(A) The homeschool athletic organization has guidelines applicable to health, safety, and eligibility requirements that are similar to those required of WVSSAC member schools;

(B) The homeschool team agrees to abide by WVSSAC rules and policies concerning game conduct, officiating, and scheduling;

(C) Any homeschool team participating provides proof of insurance coverage similar to WVSSAC member schools;

and (D) The WVSSAC member school is willing to schedule the athletic contest against the homeschool organization or team consistent with §18-2-25f(d)(3) of this code.

(2) Homeschool organizations and teams participating under this section may not:

(A) Be included in any official WVSSAC rankings, points systems, standings, or statistical records;

(B) Be eligible for WVSSAC postseason competitions, including, but not limited to, sectionals, regionals, and state championships;

or (C) Affect the official record, win-loss tally, or statistical standings of WVSSAC member schools, though results of contests may be recorded separately for historical purposes.

(3) A WVSSAC member school may voluntarily choose whether to schedule games against a homeschool organization or team without penalty or mandatory participation requirements.

(e) Implementation and oversight.

— CS for SB 689 (1) The WVSSAC shall oversee the implementation of this section and provide guidance to member schools on how to incorporate homeschool team participation in a manner consistent with WVSSAC policies.

(2) The WVSSAC shall ensure that all homeschool organizations wishing to participate meet the basic eligibility criteria outlined in this section.

(3) Any disputes arising from the application of this section shall be reviewed by a WVSSAC-designated committee, with final decisions being subject to appeal to the West Virginia State Board of Education.