Homeschoolers on FCPS high school teams?

[Anonymous]

High school sports teams are part of the larger high school community. Pretty sure homeschool kids and their families would not be showing up to pep rallies, going en masse to cheer on another school team, donating to the athletic boosters, posing for the team yearbook photo, volunteering at the snack bar, etc. It’s not nearly as simple as “But muh taxes paid for this!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school sports teams are part of the larger high school community. Pretty sure homeschool kids and their families would not be showing up to pep rallies, going en masse to cheer on another school team, donating to the athletic boosters, posing for the team yearbook photo, volunteering at the snack bar, etc. It’s not nearly as simple as “But muh taxes paid for this!”

I don’t see why they wouldn’t participate in there if given the opportunity. Can’t they take a few classes a la carte, like some electives?

Every time a family elects not to attend public school and attend homeschool/private school instead, isn’t there more money in the general fund (where school dollars come
From) to do other things with those “saved” dollars at the state/county level? I know schools have a head count day that helps determines future funding, but after that date, FCPS doesn’t care as much about numbers. So, if a homeschooler could be counted bc of their part-time status wouldn’t that help the school too?

- Herndon HS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school sports teams are part of the larger high school community. Pretty sure homeschool kids and their families would not be showing up to pep rallies, going en masse to cheer on another school team, donating to the athletic boosters, posing for the team yearbook photo, volunteering at the snack bar, etc. It’s not nearly as simple as “But muh taxes paid for this!”

I don’t see why they wouldn’t participate in there if given the opportunity. Can’t they take a few classes a la carte, like some electives?

Every time a family elects not to attend public school and attend homeschool/private school instead, isn’t there more money in the general fund (where school dollars come
From) to do other things with those “saved” dollars at the state/county level? I know schools have a head count day that helps determines future funding, but after that date, FCPS doesn’t care as much about numbers. So, if a homeschooler could be counted bc of their part-time status wouldn’t that help the school too?

- Herndon HS parent

They already can. Homeschool or online private school students can take two courses in FCPS each year. We looked into this for a specific academic class but the logistics made it impossible for us. The reason they can’t participate in school activities, is students have to be enrolled full time as as FCPS student to participate in sports or activities at the school. https://www.fcps.edu/registration/home-instruction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn't be allowed to. Can't have your cake and eat it too. Attend the school, get the benefits.

Ok, maybe they shouldn’t pay property taxes that go toward the schools, either.

Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school sports teams are part of the larger high school community. Pretty sure homeschool kids and their families would not be showing up to pep rallies, going en masse to cheer on another school team, donating to the athletic boosters, posing for the team yearbook photo, volunteering at the snack bar, etc. It’s not nearly as simple as “But muh taxes paid for this!”

I don’t see why they wouldn’t participate in there if given the opportunity. Can’t they take a few classes a la carte, like some electives?

Every time a family elects not to attend public school and attend homeschool/private school instead, isn’t there more money in the general fund (where school dollars come
From) to do other things with those “saved” dollars at the state/county level? I know schools have a head count day that helps determines future funding, but after that date, FCPS doesn’t care as much about numbers. So, if a homeschooler could be counted bc of their part-time status wouldn’t that help the school too?

- Herndon HS parent

No. Schools are funded on a per pupil basis and playing football does not add to the count

[Anonymous]

Students have to maintain a certain gpa to participate in sports (I’m not here to argue the rigor of the courses or things like grade inflation). It would not be possible to determine a gpa for a homeschooled student, and the burden should not be on the high school to verify it.

Regarding the tax issue—please stop. All of us pay taxes and don’t access all the services that are funded by the taxes. I’m not a senior citizen, but my taxes go to fund services for senior citizens. All parents have access to the public schools. If they choose to send their child to a private school or homeschool them, that’s on them. They don’t get to withhold their taxes because they exercise that choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school sports teams are part of the larger high school community. Pretty sure homeschool kids and their families would not be showing up to pep rallies, going en masse to cheer on another school team, donating to the athletic boosters, posing for the team yearbook photo, volunteering at the snack bar, etc. It’s not nearly as simple as “But muh taxes paid for this!”

I don’t see why they wouldn’t participate in there if given the opportunity. Can’t they take a few classes a la carte, like some electives?

Every time a family elects not to attend public school and attend homeschool/private school instead, isn’t there more money in the general fund (where school dollars come
From) to do other things with those “saved” dollars at the state/county level? I know schools have a head count day that helps determines future funding, but after that date, FCPS doesn’t care as much about numbers. So, if a homeschooler could be counted bc of their part-time status wouldn’t that help the school too?

- Herndon HS parent

No. Schools are funded on a per pupil basis and playing football does not add to the count

Understood. While the school relies on pupil count (the more pupils, the more money for the school/district). However, when an eligible student elects to go private or homeschool, the dollars that would’ve gone to the school/district stay in the general fund so that they can be used for other public uses — including potentially more $ per public school student overall. So, not sending kids to public school does indeed benefit the community at large — at least financially.