STEVENS POINT, Wis. ­– Interpretation of the budget bill recently passed into law mandates interscholastic athletics eligibility be afforded to home-based private education students (home school students) in their public school district of residence. 

The law directly conflicts with existing and long-standing WIAA Rules of Eligibility requiring a student to be enrolled full-time at the school in order to be eligible for interscholastic athletics. As a result, the WIAA Board of Control will provide temporary relief specific to this law. Amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility in relation to the new mandate will be addressed at the 2016 WIAA Annual Meeting.

Until that time, school districts must work with their administration and school boards to determine the process for verifying interscholastic athletics participation requirements in consideration of the new law and WIAA Rules of Eligibility for home-based private education students. 

District level involvement, school board action, thoroughness and attention to details are important in determining the eligibility of home-based private education students, just as it is with full-time student eligibility.

In summary, all WIAA Rules of Eligibility apply to home-based private education student on the same basis and to the same extent as a school’s students with the exception of requiring full-time enrollment status in the school district. Rules of Eligibility regarding private, virtual and charter schools remain unchanged, as do the rules for residency, transfer students and matters related to disciplinary actions for violations to school athletic codes. 

The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 505 senior high schools and 46 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 24 championship tournament series. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.