House helps private school athletes

Students from certain private schools in three Jacksonville-area counties could participate in sports at public schools on a trial basis under a bill passed by the House.

Only students from schools that are not members of the Florida High School Athletic Association and don’t have sports programs could take part.

After two years, the association and participating school districts would report on how the pilot program went and make recommendations for expanding it statewide.
Supporters, mostly Republicans, said opening public school sports to those schools is only fair because private students’ parents also are taxpayers. Home schooled students already can play at public schools. University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who was homeschooled, famously benefited from that program and was mentioned during Wednesday’s discussion of the bill.

Opponents, mainly Democrats, argued it would be unfair to public students who might lose spots on teams. They also questioned why the bill doesn’t also let public school students play at private schools.

“Somebody ought to throw a (penalty) flag on this bill because it’s clearly illegal procedure,” said Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
She waved an improvised paper pompom while asking if cheer leading would be included.

The Senate previously passed the bill (SB 526) as a statewide program but the House amended it to the two-year pilot project in Duval, Nassau and Bradford counties. The House passed it 75-41. Both chambers must agree to the same language for the bill to go to the governor.

[More at http://news.jacksonville.com]