How To Participate in UIL Extracurricular Activities at Your Local School
Thanks to new legislation (SB 401), all Texas school districts will allow homeschool UIL participation by default, unless the school board votes to opt out by September 1, 2025 (and August 1 every year moving forward). If your school district does opt out, you will have access at the next closest district that allows it.
UIL has released a comprehensive FAQ about how homeschool access will work. We've also made available the following additional resources to assist families and districts in implementing UIL access for homeschool students:
Homeschoolers have not had access to UIL activities since before 1915. For decades, THSC and thousands of Texas homeschoolers have been working to regain the freedom to Equal Access participation paid for by parents' tax dollars.
During the 87th Texas Legislature, this finally happened. State Representative and homeschool dad James Frank, along with State Senator and homeschool mom Angela Paxton, fought tirelessly to pass House Bill (HB) 547, the UIL Equal Access Bill for homeschoolers.
During the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, homeschool mom and State Senator Angela Paxton, homeschool dad and State Representative James Frank, and State Representative Brad Buckley all worked on improving UIL Equal Access by passing two new bills. HB 3708 ensured that school districts that allow homeschoolers to participate in UIL are entitled to $1,500 per student per activity in which they participate. HB 699 ensures that UIL cannot artificially inflate a school district's conference which would cause additional issues for districts just for opting to allow homeschool students to participate in UIL.
UIL Equal Access Guide & What to Expect for Homeschool Participation
THSC is already advocating for homeschoolers with UIL and local schools. We are also supporting individual families working with their school districts through the process.
The local board has until September 1, 2025 to take a vote if they will opt out of UIL homeschool participation, but in subsequent years, that date will be August 1st for any change in status a school board votes to take.
Some schools will choose to stay opted-in; others will not. Some will be interested but instead will wait to see how it works for other schools.
We believe that once the process is established, more and more school districts will make UIL participation available to homeschooled students.
We believe that parents should be free to decide what's best for their children and that students with engaged parents are the bright future of our local communities, state, and country.
For students who do not have adequate extracurricular options, UIL opportunities can be life-changing. Equal access is a proven policy—adopted in 37 states over the past 50 years. Benefits for schools include:
- Additional funding ($1,500 per homeschooler per activity)
- Stronger community engagement
- Enriched extracurricular programs
- Broader talent pool for teams and activities
UIL Equal Access supports both student opportunity and district growth.
"I am honestly just so grateful. For someone who didn't even go to the [public] school and getting to play like this, I just feel really blessed and thankful," said Aliyah, a homeschool grad and D-1 volleyball player. "I could not have done it on my own. I believe God had played a big role in this and just his favor."
How do I participate?
My school has chosen to maintain the default status of allowing UIL access for homeschoolers.
Your student will need to obtain a score that is average or above on a nationally normed standardized assessment. Any nationally normed assessment is allowed. You can find an extensive list of test options here. Make sure that the assessment you choose will be able to provide you with the results of the assessment before the beginning of the school year so that your eligibility will not be delayed.
Present an average or above test score to the school district as proof of UIL eligibility for the first 6 weeks of the school year. Contact your school and ask them where to register for the course. You will be required to fill out course enrollment paperwork and provide the assessment results.
Your student will be required to comply with all of the same relevant requirements as public school students who compete in UIL. The school will explain any relevant policies during the registration process. These may include requirements related to:
- Residency in the district
- Registration for league activities;
- Age eligibility
- Fees (you may be asked to pay for uniforms or similar items if public school students do the same)
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Try-Outs
- Physical condition
- Qualifications
- Responsibilities
- Event schedules
- Standards of behavior
- Performance
- Immunizations (religious, medical, and conscientious exemptions are allowed).
What else should I know?
To be eligible to participate as a homeschool student, your student must have been withdrawn from the public school before the beginning of the school year in which they will be participating as a homeschool student. (e.g., before the first day of school in the fall semester for which they wish to participate in UIL). In other words, your student can not have been enrolled in the public school for even one day or the student will be ineligible for UIL homeschool participation until the next school year.
To participate in UIL activities during the first 6-weeks of a school year, a homeschool student must demonstrate academic proficiency by obtaining an average or above score on any nationally normed standardized assessment.
Suppose you plan to withdraw your student from public school and participate as a homeschool student the following school year. In that case, THSC recommends that your student take a nationally normed assessment prior to withdrawing from the public school. This will help ensure that, before you withdraw, you know whether your student will be able to obtain UIL eligibility for the coming school year.
What if my school district has opted-out of UIL access for homeschoolers?
Find your school and contact them to ask if they will stay in the program for UIL access for homeschoolers.
What steps can I take?
Contact each of your school board of trustees members and ask them to stay opted-in to UIL access for homeschool students. You can find a list of your school board members on your school district's website. Locate your school district's website here. If you have a group of homeschool families who want to ensure the district remains in the Homeschool UIL access program, consider a coordinated effort in your appeals to your local school board. Each homeschool family can contact the school board trustees in order to bring awareness to the importance of UIL homeschool participation.
Not sure which school district you live in? Find your school district here. We recommend emailing or calling each school board member and telling them why you want the district to stay opted-in. You can download a resource packet by filling out the form below. The packet includes information and instructions on approaching your school board members.
Contact the coach or instructor in charge of the UIL activity that your student wants to participate in. Find out if they are in favor of that. If so, ask them to speak with the school board in support of homeschool access to UIL. Send them the same packet of information that you send to your school board members. Because they work for the school, coaches and instructors will likely have a lot of sway with the school board members.
Make sure your school board knows HB 3708 ensures that school districts that allow homeschoolers to participate in UIL are entitled to $1,500 per student per activity in which they participate.
Track the agenda of your local school board meetings, and be prepared to attend and if necessary testify in favor of the district's participation in Homeschool UIL Access.
How can I become eligible after the first six weeks?
This information will be required periodically and provided according to the schedule on the public school's grading calendar. The school may require a form to be completed, or a letter submitted to the school from the parent stating that the student is currently receiving passing grades in all subjects should be sufficient. There is no requirement that you provide the school with any specifics about how you homeschool or your curriculum choices. Only written verification that your student is passing their current classes is required. You can download a sample letter here.
- Your student will be required to comply with all of the same relevant requirements as public school students who compete in UIL. The school will explain any relevant policies during the registration process. These may include requirements related to:
- Residency in the district
- Registration for league activities;
- Age eligibility
- Fees (you may be asked to pay for uniforms or similar items if public school students do the same)
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Try-Outs
- Physical condition
- Qualifications
- Responsibilities
- Event schedules
- Standards of behavior
- Performance
- Immunizations (religious, medical, and conscientious exemptions are allowed).
UIL FAQ's
Yes. A school can choose to allow local students to participate, but not students from outside of the district. In such a situation, the out-of-district student seeking to participate is allowed to go to the next closest school that does allow participation for out-of-district students.
Yes. During the first six weeks of competition, a homeschool student is required to provide a score that is average or above on any nationally normed standardized test of the parent's choice. Many nationally normed tests allow for different types of accommodations based on the student's needs, so a parent is free to select a test that works best for them.
You can find an extensive list of test options here that is periodically updated.
If there are not adequate testing accommodations for a child, they may still qualify to participate in UIL extracurricular activities. The testing requirement only applies to the first six weeks. If the student meets other eligibility standards (e.g., passing grades), they may be eligible. Check out the eligibility standards your student will need to meet in the section above entitled: Step 2: Comply With District Policies
Any nationally normed standardized test. Check out this list of test options here.
Yes. Suppose your student does not meet the eligibility standards to participate during the first six weeks of competition, but they do meet eligibility standards to participate after the first six weeks. In that case, they are allowed to do so.
Check out the eligibility standards your student will need to meet by clicking above on "How can we participate?".
Yes, if the school district you live in allows homeschool participation. However, if your local school board takes a vote to opt out of UIL homeschool participation, your student is allowed to participate in the closest neighboring district that allows participation.
UIL rules prohibit a student from moving into a new district to participate in varsity athletics events. If you have moved to the district to participate in UIL events, your student will be ineligible for varsity athletics for one year.
