Homeschool Sports Eligibility in California
Not while your child is in a home-based private school. California's athletic federation makes students taught at home by parents ineligible, but a student in a public independent study program can compete for the school in the family's attendance area.
Why the route matters
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) governs high school sports. Its Bylaw 301 makes students in home schooling or home study run by parents or other persons ineligible for CIF competition. CIF explains that only a school's principal can certify academic eligibility, which programs outside a school board's oversight cannot provide.
Bylaw 302 opens a path through public independent study, where the student is enrolled in a public school but learns at home. Choosing it makes your child a public school student for every purpose, not only for sports.
Rules that decide participation
Run by the school
The independent study program is run by the administration of the school your child would play for, with a curriculum the local board adopts that meets state graduation standards.
Taught by school staff
The school's paid staff teach and grade the work.
Course load
Your child is enrolled in at least 20 semester credits.
Attendance area
Your child competes for the public school in whose attendance area the family lives.
Before the season
First step
If school sports matter, ask your district whether its independent study program meets CIF Bylaw 302 before you file a private school affidavit.
When to start
Enroll in the independent study program before the season, since eligibility depends on that enrollment.
School that fits around the season
Lessons start at your child's level and go wherever practice and travel do. We grade the work as it is submitted and keep the grades and transcript a school or league may ask to see.
$149/month per child after the trial.