Bill > SB63

This bill creates and modifies provisions relating to educational options for students, specifically focusing on home schools and Family Paced Education (FPE) schools. The bill redefines and updates definitions for home schools and FPE schools, clarifying their characteristics, such as having a primary purpose of private or religious-based instruction, enrolling children between specific ages, and not charging tuition. It establishes requirements for maintaining educational records, including keeping a plan book, portfolio of academic work, and providing at least 1,000 hours of instruction annually, with 600 hours dedicated to core academic subjects. The bill introduces a new section (167.790) that significantly expands opportunities for students in home schools, FPE schools, and virtual schools to participate in public school events and activities, including athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities. This provision ensures that such students cannot be prohibited from participating in school-sponsored events solely based on their educational setting, with some specific conditions such as passing tryouts, meeting residency requirements, providing a physical for sports, and adhering to the same conduct standards as enrolled students. The bill also includes provisions about eligibility, disciplinary policies, and protections against discrimination for students in alternative educational settings.