The Hamilton County School Board revisited their July decision to not allow home educated students to participate on area school teams and voted this time to allow home educated students to participate beginning with winter sports.

The rule applies to homeschooled students registered with their local education district.

Those covered under a church-affiliated program or other umbrella group are excluded.

The following ruling will only apply to students already registered for this school year with the LEA. The ruling is as follows:

A homeschooled student wishing to participate in extracurricular athletics at a member school shall be eligible if the following qualifications are met:

The fine print

1. The student shall be enrolled in a homeschool study program in compliance with Section 49- 6-3050(b)(1) and be registered with the local director of schools (or head of school, if a private school) by August 15 of the current school year.

2. The participating student must have a legal residence within the school district where he/she is registered, if registering with a public school. If registering with a private school, the student must have a legal residence within 20 miles of the private school and meet all tuition and financial aid requirements.

3. By Aug. 15 of the school year, the parent or guardian must make application to the principal of the member school in which the homeschool athlete wishes to participate.

4. The homeschool athlete shall meet the same academic standards required of a member school student athlete to participate in the athletic program; however, the Director of Schools for public schools (or the head of school for private schools) in which a homeschool athlete wishes to participate shall work with the parent or guardian to ensure that the homeschool athlete is academically eligible. If a homeschool student’s course of study does not include five (5) academic subjects, then the Director of Schools (or head of school, if a private school) and the parent shall develop an alternative measure of academic progress and submit the same to the TSSAA for approval. The member school shall provide proof of academic eligibility to the TSSAA each semester.

5. The homeschool student must provide proof of basic medical insurance coverage and both independently secured catastrophic insurance coverage and liability insurance coverage which names the TSSAA as an insured party in the event the school’s insurance provider does not extend coverage to students enrolled in homeschool programs. The insurance must be in place before the homeschool student practices or participates.

6. The LEA may impose a participation fee for each athletic sport in which a homeschool athlete wishes to participate. Such participation fee shall not exceed three hundred dollars annually for each sport and shall be paid in full prior to the first regular season contest. A homeschool student participating at a private school shall be subject to full tuition and financial aid rules.

7. The homeschool student must meet all other TSSAA eligibility requirements.

8. All eligibility issues may be appealed in accordance with the Bylaws of the TSSAA.

9. The homeschool athlete must adhere to the same standards of behavior, responsibility, performance, and code of conduct as other participants of the team.

10. This rule gives a homeschool athlete the opportunity to try out for a member school’s athletic team. Ultimate decisions on the roster are left to the member schools and are not governed by the TSSAA. No student is guaranteed participation, but only the opportunity to try out for a position on the team, subject to the other provisions of this rule.

CSTHEA will continue to offer sports and other extra-curricular activities for area home educated students. Mock trial and drama as well as many sports teams are some of the activities available.

Please see www.csthea.org for more information on CSTHEA sponsored activities. If you are interested in starting an activity not offered to our students please contact Janell Bontekoe at janell@bontekoes.com for activity start up information.

More than 50,000 children in Tennessee are home-schooled, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. Their parents save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year by opting to handle their children’s education at their own expense — while still paying taxes to support public schools.

In a world where home-schooling families were not dismissed as misfits and paranoiacs, public schools would be high-fiving them for helping keep government budgets balanced. Instead, home-schoolers remain an object of contempt and discrimination, at least among some in the public education establishment.

Witness the slight, calculated loosening by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association of broad restrictions against home-schoolers who want to take part in sports at public schools.

Read the full article at TimesFreePress.com!

The spring season will kick off with a scrimmage and meet and greet with the CSTHEA high school boys’ team. The team will compete against other local schools in March and April.

Coach Trussel says they are always looking for more team players, so if you are interested check them out. For more information contact John Trussel at 423.894.0511 or jtrussel@daltonstate.edu.

(Roughly July to October)

• Cross Country
  • for grade 3 – 12 both boys and girls
  • contact Jim Steffes Jim@bartohoss.com
• Girls Varsity Soccer
  • must be 13 by Aug. 15
  • contact Janell Bontekoe janell@bontekoes.com
• Girls Volleyball
  • highschool age contact Ryan Bolton rjtmbolt@bellsouth.net
• Girls middleschool soccer
  • contact Brian Scott brian.scott@shawinc.com

Winter sports

(Approximately October – early March)

• Basketball
  • for middle and highschool boys and girls
  • contact Angie Ambrosetti ambrosetti8@comcast.net

Spring Sports

(Approximately March – May)

• Boys baseball
  • for middle and highschool age
  • contact Julie Simmons djsimons@tvn.net or Cindy Rollins
• Boys Varsity Soccer
  • highschool age
  • contact Yoli Bell bellyobell@comcast.net
• Boys middleschool soccer team
  • We are also in the midst of organizing. This would be a spring sport.
  • Contact John Trussel jtrussel@daltonstate.edu

2 appeals

• A proposed girls softball team needs a coach and supportive parents.
  • Contact Jan Bontekoe at janell@bontekoes.com
• A golf or tennis program is also sought for the Chattanoooga area homeschoolers.

Some home-schooled students will be eligible to try out for Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association teams next year. The state association’s Legislative Council approved a bylaw on Wednesday that will make that possible. The students must meet a list of 10 requirements, including registering with a local director of schools or a private-school headmaster. Read the rest of this story at The Tennessean.

By Cindy Rollins

It comes as no surprise that many families decide not to homeschool through high school. All kinds of things factor into the equation: The abundance of private education in our area, moms feeling inadequate, misconceptions about public education, misunderstandings about getting children into college and perhaps the biggest factor of all — sports.

Over the years many moms have told me that they would love to homeschool through high school but their husbands felt it was important for their sons and daughters to play sports. And while some families are willing to write off sports involvement as unnecessary and even wrong, other families feel that their children benefit greatly from the physical activity and competition.

In states such as Florida, home educators are allowed to play on the public school teams. Therefore, homeschool sports are not developed in those states.

Some private schools permit homeschoolers to participate, but that can get tricky. League rules are concerned that bringing in homeschoolers may be a form of recruiting or stacking the teams. The truth is, where homeschoolers have options for sports participation they usually take those options. For many families this means saying goodbye to home education and joining the ranks of the more traditionally educated. This need not be.

In Tennessee we have the opportunity to develop first-class home school athletic programs. As we develop and promote these programs, we will be able to draw from our own talented pool of student athletes. The fact that we cannot play for public school teams becomes an asset rather than a liability. CSTHEA has a many sports teams already in place and student athletes in these programs have gone on to play college ball. The Chattanooga Patriots ball teams have the potential to provide our students with physical activity now and boost college scholarship potential later.

This year’s Chattanooga Patriots Baseball team is an example of what can be accomplished by talented homeschool athletes with good coaching. With their experienced coach, Greg Payne, the Patriots ended out their season with a 29-7 record, beating local private school teams, winning a mid-season tournament against several public school teams, and taking seventh place in the 23-team Home School World Series in Auburndale, Fla., even though they were short two key players. If you have ever had any doubts about the viability of homeschool sports, check out the amazing competition across the country at the HWSA.net website.

Of the five graduating seniors on the Patriots baseball club, four will be playing college ball next fall. Three of my sons have gone on to play college baseball.

The Patriots are making a name for themselves in the Chattanooga area; with that recognition, doors of opportunity are opening. It was just four seasons ago that Doug and Julie Simons moved to Chattanooga and put in the time and effort to start the ballteam. Their hard work paid off this year with a winning team. Have a son who loves baseball? The Chattanooga homeschool community has a place for him.

Most Patriot teams begin with middle school. If you have a son or daughter interested in playing on a Patriot team, including soccer, volleyball, cross country, baseball, basketball, or even ultimate Frisbee, check out the sports booth at the upcoming CSTHEA home education expo and curriculum fair on July 23-24 at the Camp Jordan Arena or check your Esprit newsletter for details and phone numbers.

Don’t see your child’s favorite sport listed: golf, tennis, girl’s softball etc? Those sports are just waiting for a family to step up and get the ball rolling.

Don’t let sports be your excuse for not home educating through high school. The Chattanooga Patriots teams are there for you. Will you be there for them?

• Cross Country
  • For grade 3 through 12 both boys and girls
  • Contact Jim Steffes: Jim@bartohoss.com
• Girls Varsity Soccer
  • Must be 13 by August 15
  • Contact Janell Bontekoe: janell@bontekoes.com
• Girls Volleyball
  • Highschool age
  • Contact Ryan Bolton: rjtmbolt@bellsouth.net

Winter sports (approximately October through early March)

• Basketball
  • For middle and highschool boys and girls
  • Contact Angie Ambrosetti: ambrosetti8@comcast.net

Spring Sports (approximately March through May)

• Boys baseball
  • For middle and highschool age
  • Contact Julie Simmons djsimons@tvn.net
• Boys Varsity Soccer
  • Highschool age
  • Contact Yoli Bell: bellyobell@comcast.net

We are also in the midst of organizing a boys middle school school soccer team — this would be a fall sport. (Contact John Trussel: jtrussel@daltonstate.edu)

Can sign up for any of these at the Homeschool Expo/Curriculum Fair.

Chattanooga-area homeschool students have just completed a stellar season of chess competition at regional, statewide, and national tournaments, with very strong showings at all levels. Considering that this was their first venture into structured team competition, the CSTHEA “Capstone Ragin’ Rooks” demonstrated very good sportsmanship and character, strong chess skills, and excellent team spirit and strategy.

The CSTHEA 7th-9th grade team took first place in the Tennessee Region 2 competition, culminating in a sudden-death timed playoff match against the Crossville homeschool team. Clocks whirred, fists banged, pieces flew and referees punctuated the intense atmosphere with their curt rulings and comments, all while a large huddle of onlookers watched with bated breath until the final announcement “Chattanooga wins!” Who knew that chess could be an exciting spectator sport? The team consisted of Jonathan Warren, Ruth Hinchman, Trevor Sharpe, Seth Huffman and Annabelle Huffman. Justin Lohr came in to pinchhit in the final playoff match and helped push the team over the top. They went on to the state team tournament two weeks later, placing 6th in the field of all the best teams from across Tennessee.

The CSTHEA 4th-6th grade team, including Kyle Sharpe, Samuel Hinchman, Peter Zeglen, Luke Plaisted, Priscilla Huffman, and Adelaide Huffman, tied for second place in its division at the regional competition, and also went on to play well at the state tournament. The 1st-3rd grade A & B teams, comprising Justin Lohr, Nathan Lohr, Bryant Lohr, Joshua Simmons, Joel Huffman, Gideon Lohr, Noah Huffman, and Lillian Sharpe, did extremely well, emerging the undefeated A-team victor at regionals, and continuing on to an outstanding second place finish in statewide competition.

The chess club brought home multiple trophies, wonderful memories, and a wealth of newfound experience. Private and public schools from the Chattanooga area and from all over the state competed in these events, and the Chattanooga homeschool teams held their own quite convincingly.

Many of these team players also played separately in individual competition with very good results. (Were you aware that Chattanooga homeschooler Philip Hinchman is a recurring statewide high school chess champion?)

Alan Kantor of the U.S. Chess Federation, along with many parents, helped coach our group toward these noteworthy achievements. Mr. Kantor commented, “This has been the greatest team that I have coached for in terms of camaraderie or togetherness since I coached a team in New York to take second place in the Nationals. Everyone worked together so well and you all have so much promise.”

It won’t be long until the 2010 competition season begins, so come join us and help us do even better next year! We meet weekly during the school year, and hope to meet at least monthly during the summer also. For more information about the CSTHEA Capstone Chess Club, contact organizer Jeannette Lohr (423-842-6724, capstonechess@yahoo.com) or coach Andrew Huffman (423-227-3590, huffmanhouse@gmail.com), or look for us at the big curriculum fair.

Why play chess? The benefits are too many to fully enumerate here, but many studies and anecdotes show that playing chess improves overall academic performance and skills related to reading, math, critical thinking, problem solving, logic, memory, concentration, imagination, creativity, independence, and confidence. Besides, it’s fun.