Georgia’s home-schooled students in grades 6-12 are now permitted to participate in extracurricular and interscholastic activities.
The Georgia General Assembly passed the Dexter Mosley Act (Senate Bill 51) in June that allows “home study” students to participate in “activities (such as athletics, band, drama) on behalf of the student’s resident school and under the sponsorship, direction and control of the resident school or resident school system, provided that requirements are met.”
Those requirements are sixfold. First, parents must notify districts at least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a home school student will enroll in a “qualifying course.” Second, parents must provide to the principal and superintendent a copy of the student’s most recent annual progress report.
Next, the home school student must enroll and attempt to complete one qualifying course for each semester of the regular school year during any part of which they participate, plus they must meet all participation requirements (age, academic, behavioral, etc.) as applicable.
Additionally, students must follow the code of conduct and disciplinary measures and transportation policies as students enrolled at the resident school. Finally, the home school student must complete the tryout process that is applicable to all students for participation.
The state also has measures in place to keep students from constantly switching between home school and public school settings.
“Any student who withdraws from a public school to participate in a home study program shall be ineligible for participation in any extracurricular and interscholastic activities for 12 months from the date of the home study Declaration of Intent submission to Georgia Department of Education,” the bill states.
A previous hurdle in allowing home school students to participate revolved around discipline and what authority a district had if the student was not tied to the school in any fashion outside of extracurricular activities.
Schools are now granted that authority as students must take at least one course at the school per semester.
The Gilmer High baseball team appears to be one of the first programs that will take advantage of the Dexter Mosley Act.
Blake Zabala (class of 2022) and brother Austin Zabala (2024) have taken the proper steps to ensure they are in position to be on the field for the Bobcats when the season rolls around next February.
“As it happens, my sons are the first to be affected by this new law, and they will be playing baseball for Gilmer. They have already registered with Gilmer, and we have been speaking with coach Jeff Thurman,” said Albert Zabala.
The Zabala brothers are regulars on the travel baseball scene and play with teams mainly based in East Cobb. Blake is currently ranked as one of the top 300 catchers in the country, according to PerfectGame.com.
“Both of my kids have played travel baseball at competitive levels and bring in a unique talent set to the program,” Albert said before adding, “This can also open the door for talented young athletes and students for football and other sports in Gilmer.”