Florida alternative school students, including homeschoolers and private school students, may soon face activity fees to participate in public school sports under legislation that passed the state Senate last week. Senate Bill 538, which received unanimous approval on Thursday, would authorize public school districts across Florida to charge fees for extracurricular sports participation by students not enrolled in traditional public schools. The legislation now moves forward in the approval process with a potential July implementation date.
According to the bill’s provisions, school districts would gain authority to establish activity fees for homeschool and private school students participating in public school athletics. The measure requires districts to publish written policies detailing fee calculations for each sport, with charges uniformly applied throughout the district. Additionally, the legislation caps fees at each student’s proportional share of the actual cost to operate the specific sport.
Homeschool Parent Supports Activity Fee Structure
Allison Hartman, a Pensacola-area homeschool mother of 11 children, expressed support for the proposed activity fees. Several of her children have participated in sports programs, giving her firsthand experience with athletic costs. She noted that homeschool families choosing to use public school resources should expect to contribute financially.
Hartman emphasized that activity fees are standard practice in private athletic programs. She recalled paying $200 per student annually when three of her daughters played volleyball through a private Christian school, with no discounts for multiple participants. In comparison, she suggested that a $50 fee would represent minimal expense for families accustomed to private sports league costs.
Questions About Funding and Fairness
However, Hartman raised concerns about potential double-charging. She questioned whether school districts already receive state reimbursement for homeschool students participating in athletics, which could result in counties collecting both state funds and parental fees. The bill does not appear to address this funding mechanism according to available information.
The homeschool parent’s perspective on the fees has evolved over time. While she initially considered similar charges unfair when her family encountered them previously, she now views alternative school students as guests in public school programs. She believes districts maintain the prerogative to set their own fee structures, even if they differ from charges applied to enrolled students.
Current District Policies on Sports Participation Fees
School districts in the Florida Panhandle currently follow varying approaches regarding activity fees for alternative students. Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County school districts do not charge homeschool or private school students to participate in public school sports programs. Meanwhile, Escambia County reported charging unenrolled students what it describes as a “nominal fee” for both extracurricular and curricular activities.
The unanimous Senate approval of the sports activity fee bill suggests broad legislative support for giving districts flexibility in cost-sharing arrangements. Proponents may view the measure as a way to offset taxpayer expenses when non-enrolled students utilize public school athletic resources. In contrast, critics might argue that families already pay property taxes supporting public schools regardless of enrollment status.
If Senate Bill 538 becomes law, the new activity fee authority would take effect in July, before the start of the upcoming school year. The legislation must still complete the remaining steps in Florida’s lawmaking process, though the timeline for final approval remains uncertain. School districts would then need to develop and publish their fee policies before fall sports seasons begin.
