Homeschool benefits and savings in the Somerville Independent School District
Somerville ISD (Independent School District) lets homeschooled students join its UIL (University Interscholastic League) extracurricular activities under a policy its board approved in July 2026. Families in the attendance zone qualify, and so do families elsewhere when Somerville is the closest district that allows homeschool participation; 2026-27 applications were due August 12, 2026.
Who qualifies
Lives in the attendance zone
Homeschooled students in Somerville ISD's attendance zone can apply. Students outside it can join if Somerville is the closest district to their home that allows homeschool participation.
Attends practices and class periods
Your child takes part in practices and attends the class periods that go with the activity, under the SISD Extracurricular Handbook.
What your child can join
The terms come from Somerville ISD's July 31, 2026 announcement of the homeschool UIL policy.
- Activities
- District UIL extracurricular activities
- Students outside the zone
- Allowed if Somerville is the closest participating district
- Other districts in the three counties
- Opted out for 2026-27
- Expectations
- Same as enrolled students
- 2026-27 application
- Closed August 12, 2026
The announcement does not list fees, transportation, or next year's deadline, so ask the district office about those before you plan for 2027-28.
How to join
- Before you apply
Check your nearest district
If you live outside Somerville ISD, confirm that your own district and any closer ones opted out, since the closest participating campus is where your child plays.
- By the yearly deadline
Send the interest form
Submit the district's online interest form. For 2026-27 it was due Wednesday, August 12.
- During the season
Keep eligibility
Your child goes through academic eligibility checks and follows the Extracurricular Handbook like any enrolled student.
What it includes
Included
- UIL extracurricular activities
- Practices and corresponding class periods
Not included
- Applications after the yearly deadline
- Students closer to another participating district
Who to contact about participation
The Somerville ISD district office answers questions about homeschool UIL participation and the interest form.
979-596-2153 Homeschool interest form
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Texas
You do not have to file a homeschool notice to the state.
Texas sets these rules:
- Subjects: Instruction in Texas must include reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.
- Testing: No routine annual homeschool standardized test is required. UIL participation and public-school transfer can have separate testing requirements.
- Records: Texas does not require homeschool records, but keeping them is recommended.
- Teachers: Texas does not require homeschool parents to hold a teaching certificate.
Texas also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) awards $2,000 a year to selected home-education students for approved expenses. Applications for 2026-27 closed March 31, 2026; families who missed that cycle can join the 2027-28 interest list.
Read the Texas homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Texas
Questions parents ask
- Does Somerville ISD charge UIL fees or provide transportation?
- The announcement does not say.
- We live in Brazos County. Can we join Somerville ISD UIL activities?
- Possibly. Somerville says every other district in Burleson, Brazos, and Washington counties opted out for 2026-27, so Somerville may be your closest participating district.
- Can we still apply after the deadline?
- Possibly. Call the district office to ask whether it accepts late interest forms after the August 12 deadline and when the 2027-28 form opens.
- Where can I read the statewide rules?
- Somerville points families to the UIL homeschool FAQ at uiltexas.org for the statewide participation guidelines.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
Find benefits for your ZIP code