Can Homeschoolers Play Sports in Florida? The 2026 Law (SB 538)

Florida's law setting student standards for participation in sports and other extracurricular activities, section 1006.15 of the Florida Statutes, which has carried the short title "Craig Dickinson Act" since 1996, was rewritten in the 2026 legislative session. This post summarizes what the new law says, with a focus on home education students.

The bill, SB 538 (its House companion was HB 731), passed the Legislature on 11 March 2026, was approved by the Governor on 22 May 2026, became Chapter 2026-93, Laws of Florida, and took effect on 1 July 2026. It rewrites section 1006.15 of the Florida Statutes and amends several related sections.

Which schools a home education student can join

Under the previous law, home education students could already take part in sports at any public school in their district. For other activities, they could take part at the school assigned by district attendance-area policy, at a school they could choose to attend under s. 1002.31 (controlled open enrollment), or at a private school by agreement. That language has been removed.

Under the new law, a home education student may take part in an activity at a public or charter school in the district where they live. Taking part at a private school is also possible if that private school agrees.

The law uses a new term, "eligible student," defined as a home education student, charter school student, private school student, Florida Virtual School student, alternative school student, or traditional public school student who wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity. It does not name PEP students. The Florida Home Education Foundation reads the law as covering PEP students, and s. 1002.01 provides that a PEP student "shall be provided the same flexibility and opportunities as provided in s. 1002.41(3)-(12)," which includes the provision in s. 1002.41(4) for participation in extracurricular activities under s. 1006.15.

Schools outside the home district

A student may take part at a school in an adjacent district only if no public or charter school in their own district offers the activity and no private school in the district agrees to take them. If all options are exhausted, the student may petition the executive director of the applicable governing organization (the law names the Florida High School Athletic Association, or FHSAA, as one such organization) to explore options for participation.

One school per year for sports

The previous law barred a student from playing the same sport at two schools in one year. The new law states that a student "may not participate in sports at two different schools during the same school year." This applies to all students, not only home education students.

The exceptions are:

a dependent child of active-duty military who moved under military orders;
a child relocated by a foster care placement in a different school zone;
a move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent;
approval by the executive director of the applicable governing organization; the governing organization must provide a determination of eligibility within 14 days after a request is made.

What counts as an extracurricular activity

The law defines an extracurricular activity as "any school-authorized or education-related activity occurring during or outside the regular instructional school day," and says being eligible to participate includes, but is not limited to, tryouts, off-season conditioning, summer workouts, preseason conditioning, in-season practice and contests. It also states that eligibility does not guarantee a place on a team. The definitions of "extracurricular" and "eligible to participate" existed in the previous law; the rewrite restates them in a new definitions subsection and adds the terms "eligible student" and "governing organization."

Academic eligibility

Home education students must show educational progress using a method of evaluation agreed on by the parent and the school principal. This requirement also existed in the previous law.

The methods listed include review of the student's work by a certified teacher chosen by the parent; grades from correspondence courses; grades from courses at a Florida College System institution, state university or district career center; standardized test scores above the 35th percentile; or any other method of annual evaluation allowed under s. 1002.41.

The rewrite removed a sentence that had limited evaluation requirements for home education students to those that apply under s. 1002.41. The law still provides that a school board may not make participation less accessible to home education students than to other students.

Fees

Home education students registered under s. 1002.41, and public school students taking part at a public school where they are not enrolled, may only be charged the fee paid by students enrolled at the school.
Other students not enrolled at the school, such as private or umbrella school students, may be charged a fee that does not exceed the greater of the enrolled-student fee or a reasonable cost-based fee of up to $400 per activity. The law does not name PEP students; the Florida Home Education Foundation states that PEP students may be charged these fees.

A cost-based fee must be approved each year by 1 July by the district school board (or the charter school's governing board) as a voted action item. Each public school must publish its full list of fees on its own website before the school year begins, and fees are reported to the Department of Education each year.

Private and umbrella school students

Students enrolled in an umbrella school are private school students under Florida law and are included in the "eligible student" definition. They may take part in an activity at another school in their district if their own school does not offer it. Taking part at a private school other than their own requires that school's agreement.

Insurance

Any insurance provided by district school boards for participants in extracurricular activities must now cover any eligible student. The previous provision requiring home education students to pay any additional premium was removed.

Related: Pasco County course offerings

Separately from the extracurricular law, the Pasco County school district expanded the classes available to homeschool students through its Flex Education program starting in fall 2026. The additions include elementary art, computer science, music and P.E., and more middle and high school courses where space allows. According to the district, students using state scholarship funds pay applicable course fees from those funds, while home education students without scholarship funds do not pay tuition, although additional course fees may apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can homeschoolers play sports in Florida?

Yes. Under s. 1006.15, Florida Statutes, home education students can take part in sports and other extracurricular activities at public and charter schools in their resident district, provided they meet the eligibility requirements, including showing educational progress by a method agreed on by the parent and the school principal.

Can a homeschooled student play high school sports at any school in their district?

Under the 2026 law, a home education student may take part at a public or charter school in the district where they live. Taking part at a private school requires that school's agreement.

Can a student play sports for two different schools in one year?

No, with limited exceptions. The 2026 law provides that a student may not participate in sports at two different schools during the same school year; the previous law barred playing the same sport at two schools in one year. The exceptions cover military moves, foster care placements, certain court-ordered custody changes, and approval by the governing organization's executive director.

Do homeschoolers pay fees to play sports at a public school?

Home education students registered under s. 1002.41 may only be charged the fee paid by students enrolled at the school. Other students not enrolled at the school, such as private or umbrella school students, may be charged a fee of up to the greater of the enrolled-student fee or a cost-based fee capped at $400 per activity. The law does not name PEP students, and the Florida Home Education Foundation states that they may be charged these fees.

Does Florida have a "Tim Tebow law"?

Laws allowing homeschool students to play public school sports are often called "Tim Tebow laws." Florida's version is the Craig Dickinson Act, enacted in 1996 as part of s. 232.425, Florida Statutes, now s. 1006.15, and rewritten in 2026 by SB 538.

Sources

Last checked: October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.