Homeschool Sports Eligibility in New Mexico
Yes, at your zoned public school. New Mexico law lets a home school student take part in up to three school district activities a year, athletics included, under New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) guidelines.
How homeschool participation works
Section 22-8-23.8 of the New Mexico statutes sets up a home school student activities program unit. A home school student may participate at the public school in the attendance zone where the student lives, and the school district checks the student's academic eligibility. Activities here means athletics and the co-curricular and extracurricular activities the NMAA sanctions.
Section 10 of the NMAA Handbook adds the rules for home school students. The athletic director checks grades at the same time every student is ruled eligible or ineligible, and every other NMAA rule, such as age, participation limits, and amateur status, applies.
Moving from a school to home school
A student in good standing who leaves a nonpublic school, or a public school outside the attendance zone, for home school is a transfer student and cannot play varsity at the public school for 365 calendar days, unless it is the student's first transfer. A student who was academically ineligible stays ineligible until regaining eligibility under NMAA rules.
Rules that decide participation
Registered home school
Your child is registered as a home school student with the Public Education Department (PED).
Attendance area residence
Your child's bona fide residence is inside the public school's attendance area.
More than half a schedule
You give the athletic director documentation that your child's home school classes equal more than half of that school's regular class schedule.
Code of conduct
Your child, you, and school administrators sign a written code of conduct agreement, and your child follows the school's conduct rules.
Physical, consent, and insurance
Your child has an annual physical, the parent consent forms, and proof of insurance on file with the school.
Before the season
First step
Ask the athletic director at your zoned public school which forms to file before the season.
What can rule a player out
Transportation to and from practice is the family's responsibility.
When to start
Register your home school with PED for the school year before the season starts, so the athletic director can rule on your child's eligibility with the other players.
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.