House Bill No. 363 amends R.S. 17:176.2 to authorize students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in public school activities, including extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics, at the public school they would otherwise attend based on their residence. The bill specifies that public schools cannot disqualify these students from participation solely due to their enrollment in a virtual school, as long as they reside within the school's attendance zone. Additionally, the bill maintains that these students must meet the same requirements as their peers attending the public school, such as maintaining a minimum grade point average and adhering to disciplinary standards.

The proposed law also extends the existing prohibition against public schools being members of any interscholastic extracurricular athletic association that denies eligibility based on enrollment in an approved home study program to include students enrolled in virtual schools. This ensures that virtual school students are afforded the same opportunities for participation in public school activities as those in traditional home study programs. The bill clarifies definitions for "approved home study program" and "virtual school" as per existing law.

Statutes affected:
HB363 Original:
HB363 Engrossed: