The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill today that would clear the way for home school students to play on public school sports teams. The bill, named for University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner and former homeschool student Tim Tebow, is opposed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

First, the basics:

The Tebow bill has been introduced before. It doesn't require public school to give homeschooled students a spot on a team, but does give them a chance to try out. They do have to meet academic requirements and can only play for the school in which they are zoned.

The rule, which still must be approved by the Senate, wouldn't apply until a student reaches the seventh grade. The bill also includes other extracurricular activities such as band.

If approved, Alabama will join 28 other states with similar versions of the law.

Alabama has an estimated 24,000 homeschooled children. The age breakdown for those- and if they are even interested in playing sports - is not known so it's unclear how many students would take advantage of any changes.

What they are saying about the bill:

AL.com

"It's a matter of rights - parents who pay taxes for the system ought to have equal access to all of its services. After all, they are separate: enrolling in the curriculum doesn't mean students must do extracurriculars; it shouldn't be that to join extracurriculars, students must enroll in the curriculum. It's also a matter of principle - conservatives should support greater freedoms for parents to pursue the best possible education for their child, without penalizing them by denying equal treatment."

He said it "would create a double standard, as students who are not subject to academic or attendance requirements of public schools would now compete with students on public school athletic teams."

The Texas Homeschool Coalition, which is fighting its own battle to have a version of the bill passed in in the state, had this to say: "In Texas, as in many other states, our taxpayer dollars go toward funding public schools, and thereby, their participation in (school-sponsored) sports and activities. However, unlike more than half of the states, Texas law does not permit home schooled students to participate in (school-sponsored) activities, despite the fact that many home schoolers would benefit from participation due to their rural location, or lack of specific extracurricular opportunities, and despite the fact that our property taxes fund (school-sponsored) events."

What do you think? Should private school students have access to public school sports? What about other extracurricular activities?

Corrected May 8, 8:25 a.m. to reflect Alabama's bill does allow for participation in other extra curricular activities such as band.