Kansas law allows homeschoolers to enroll their child part-time in their local school districts. Starting July 1, 2023, homeschoolers can also participate in extracurricular activities through their resident school district.

Kan. Stat. § 72-3120(h)(1)

“(1) Each board of education of a school district shall allow any child to enroll part-time in the school district to allow the student to attend any courses, programs or services offered by the school district if the child:

  1. Is also enrolled in a nonaccredited private elementary or secondary school pursuant to K.S.A. 72-4345, and amendments thereto, or in any other private, denominational or parochial school pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a);
  2. requests to enroll part-time in the school district; and
  3. meets the age of eligibility requirements for school attendance pursuant to K.S.A. 72-3118, and amendments thereto.

(2) Each board of education of a school district shall adopt a policy regarding the part-time enrollment of students pursuant to this subsection and shall publish such policy on the school district's website. The board of education of a school district shall make a good faith attempt to accommodate scheduling requests of students enrolling in the school district pursuant to this subsection but shall not be required to make adjustments to accommodate every such request.”

Kan. Stat. § 72-3120(h)(1).

K.S.A. Ch. 98, § 5

  1. Any student who meets the requirements of this section shall be permitted to participate in any activities offered by a school district that are regulated, supervised, promoted and developed by the activities association referred to in K.S.A. 72-7114, and amendments thereto. A student shall be permitted to participate in any such activities if such student:
    1. Is a resident of the school district;
    2. is enrolled and attending a nonpublic elementary or secondary school;
    3. complies with the requirements of K.S.A. 72-6262, and amendments thereto, prior to participation in any such activity;
    4. meets any applicable age and eligibility requirements set forth by the activities association referred to in K.S.A. 72-7114, and amendments thereto, that are not otherwise in conflict with this section;
    5. pays any fees required by the school district for participation in such activity if such fees are generally imposed upon all other students who participate in such activity; and
    6. seeks participation at the appropriate school of the school district that corresponds to where such student resides within the school district’s respective school attendance boundaries established by the board of education of the school district.
    1. Any student attending a home school who seeks to participate in an activity in the student's resident school district shall be deemed to meet any academic eligibility requirements established by the activities association for participation in an activity if:
      1. The student is maintaining satisfactory progress towards achievement or promotion to the next grade level; and
      2. the parent, teacher or organization that provides instruction to the student submits an affidavit or transcript to the activities association indicating the student meets the academic eligibility requirements of subparagraph (A).
    2. Upon submission of an affidavit, the student attending a home school shall be deemed to meet any academic eligibility requirements established by the activities association and shall retain such academic eligibility during the activity season for which such affidavit is submitted.
    3. The board of education of a school district may require a student who participates in an activity pursuant to this section to enroll in a particular course or complete a particular course as a condition of participation, if such requirement is imposed upon all other students who participate in such activity.
    4. Except as provided in subsection (b), any student who seeks to participate in an activity pursuant to this section shall be subject to any tryout or other participation requirements that are otherwise applicable to all other students for participation in the activity.
    5. This section shall take effect on and after July 1, 2023.

      6. K.S.A. Ch. 98, § 5

Things to keep in mind:

Public school access includes participation in public school classes, sports, activities, etc.

States use a unique vocabulary in this area: “extracurricular,” “cocurricular,” “curricular,” “interscholastic,” “program,” “activity,” etc. Care should be taken to distinguish one from another. When a state defines a word, it is important.

While athletic association rules are not “law,” public schools are generally constrained to operate within them, or their teams could be disqualified.

We strive toward keeping this information 100% up to date in this rapidly changing area of the law. However, this post should not be considered authoritative because of the possibility of unobserved changes in association rules, statutes, regulations, or case decisions, and because of lag time between changes and the publication of updates.

Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.