Homeschool Services

Homeschool Students Participate in UIL Athletics

In 2025, Texas lawmakers gave homeschool students a new opportunity: the chance to try out for and compete in UIL athletics through their local public school. Life School is glad to welcome homeschool families into our athletic programs if they meet state and school requirements.

• Eligibility Requirements
• Participation Requirements
• Arrival and Departure Procedures
• Behavior and Conduct
• Transportation and Travel
• Fees and Financial Responsibility
• Communication and Oversight
• Program Status and Removal
• Acknowledgement
• Injury / Medical Coverage
• Frequent Questions

Eligibility Requirements

Non-enrolled students who are homeschooled and who wish to participate in an approved UIL activity currently offered by Life School must meet all of the following requirements to represent Life School in a UIL activity:

Waiting Period for Prior Public School Enrollment

As required by Texas Education Code 33.0832, a homeschool student is not authorized to participate in a UIL activity on behalf of Life School during the remainder of any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in a public school. Any such student is subject to transfer eligibility waiting periods set by UIL.

Residency

A homeschool student is eligible to participate in a UIL activity on behalf of Life School only if the student would be eligible to attend Life School based on the student’s residential address. As a result, a  homeschool student must reside within the attendance zone for the Life School location offering the desired UIL activity. The homeschool student will be required to provide Life School with current documentation demonstrating that the student’s residential address falls within the attendance zone of the desired Life School location in order to satisfy this requirement. 

If the school that a homeschool student is zoned to attend has adopted a policy declining to grant non-enrolled students the opportunity to participate in UIL activities, a homeschool student may participate in a UIL league activity offered by Life School only if the desired Life School location is the closest school, based on geographic proximity to the student’s residential address, that permits non-enrolled students to participate in UIL activities.

Homeschool students are subject to additional residence requirements outlined in Section 442 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules.

For any homeschool student who has moved into Life School’s attendance zone within the previous 12 months, the student’s eligibility to participate in UIL activities while representing Life School may also be subject to review by a District Executive Committee (“DEC”) as required in Section 443 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules.

UIL Compliance

A homeschool student desiring to participate in a UIL activity on behalf of Life School must:

Meet all UIL eligibility requirements for participation; and Comply with all UIL rules regarding:

• Age/credit requirements
• Amateur status
• Outside competition
• Academic eligibility

Academic Eligibility

The following academic standards apply to all homeschool students who participate in UIL activities on behalf of Life School:

• Must satisfy all applicable UIL academic eligibility standards (“No Pass, No Play”)
• Must provide academic progress documentation according to Life School eligibility timelines
• Must submit grade reports during each grading cycle, including 3-week progress checks

Please note that Texas Education Code § 33.0832(f) and (g) include the following requirements related to academic eligibility for participation in UIL activities:

(f) The parent or person standing in parental relation to a non-enrolled student is responsible for oversight of academic standards relating to the student’s participation in a league activity. As a condition of eligibility to participate in a league activity during the first six weeks of a school year, a non-enrolled student must demonstrate grade-level academic proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument, such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, or Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. A non-enrolled student demonstrates the required academic proficiency by achieving a composite, core, or survey score that is within the average or higher than average range of scores, as established by the applicable testing service. For purposes of this subsection, a school district shall accept assessment results administered or reported by a third party.

(g) A non-enrolled student's demonstration of academic proficiency under Subsection (f) is sufficient for purposes of that subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the required score and the subsequent school year.

Additional Requirements:

• Grades must be submitted on an official Life School template
• Reports must be signed by the parent/educator
• First six-week eligibility requires:
  • A norm-referenced standardized test score showing average or above average performance (see list of acceptable tests above)
• Life School reserves the right to request the following information to confirm academic eligibility standards:
  • Curriculum documentation
  • Work samples
  • Additional verification if concerns arise

Behavior Eligibility

Life School may deny a homeschool student’s participation in a UIL activity sponsored by Life School if the student has:

• Engaged in conduct outlined in Texas Education Code § 37.006 related to placement in a disciplinary alternative education program or a juvenile justice alternative education program;
• Engaged in conduct outlined in Texas Education Code § 37.007 related to expulsion; or
• Has been convicted of a criminal offense or has a juvenile court adjudication. 

Required Documentation

Prior to participation, homeschool students must submit:

• Completed UIL participation forms
• Physical examination and medical clearance
• Parent/guardian acknowledgment forms
• Previous Athletic Participation Form (PAPF), as applicable
• All documents required to be filled out in Rank One, as applicable
• Any additional paperwork required by Life School

Life School reserves the right to request academic and behavioral records for the three years prior to the student’s request to participate in a Life School UIL activity.

Participation Requirements

Athletic, Band, and Choir Period Attendance

Homeschool students participating in Life School UIL activities:

• Must attend the scheduled daily athletic, band, or choir period. Attendance is mandatory and will be recorded daily.

Practice and Team Participation

Homeschool students participating in Life School UIL activities: 

• Must attend all practices, meetings, games, and team activities
• Off-season activities (open gyms, fields, weight room) are voluntary per UIL rules

Team Placement & Participation:

• Varsity eligibility is subject to UIL and DEC rulings
• Homeschool students may participate at any level (Varsity/JV/Freshman)
• Placement is based on ability and team needs
• Coaches retain final roster authority
• Tryouts are required under the same standards as enrolled students
• Teams are subject to roster limits
• Participation is not guaranteed

Arrival and Departure Procedures

Homeschool students participating in Life School UIL activities:

Arrival

• Must arrive prior to the athletic period
• Must check in at the designated campus location

Departure

• Must leave after the athletic period unless continued presence is required for team activities

Scheduling Clarifications:

• • If athletics is during the final period:
    • Students may remain on campus for practice/game under the supervision of the corresponding coach/director.
  • If athletics is earlier in the day:
    • Students must leave campus and return for after-school activities
  • All departures must follow campus safety procedures.

Attendance Accountability

Homeschool students participating in Life School UIL activities are: 

• Subject to the same attendance guidelines as enrolled students
• Accountability applies during all required participation times

Behavior and Conduct Expectations

Homeschool students must follow all standards included in the district Student Handbook, Athletic Handbook, and Fine Arts Handbook.

Failure to comply may result in:

• Disciplinary action
• Athletic contract placement
• Suspension
• Removal from the program

Transportation and Travel

Homeschool students participating in Life School UIL activities: 

• Must follow the same transportation policies as enrolled students
• Must travel with the team when Life School provides transportation, unless alternate arrangements are agreed to in advance by the coach/director

Transportation Guidelines:

• Life School does not provide transportation to/from practices; transportation will be provided for games only

Fees and Financial Responsibility

Homeschool students participating in Life School athletics, band, or choir are subject to annual participation fees:

• Athletic fee (LHSW or LSOCS): $75.00
• Band fee:
  • LHSW: $375 if you have your own instrument, $475 if you rent a Life School instrument
  • OCS: $250 if you have your own instrument; $300 if you rent a Life School instrument, $275 for percussionists
• Choir fee: 
  • LHSW: $75
  • OCS : $65
• Fee waivers must follow district policy

Communication and Oversight 

• Parents/guardians are responsible for communication with coaches/directors
• The Athletic Director (or designee) is the primary contact for athletic-related concerns
• The campus principal is the primary contact for band or choir concerns
• Homeschool students are subject to the same expectations as enrolled students

Program Status and Removal

A homeschool student may be removed for:

• Academic ineligibility
• UIL violations
• District/team policy violations
• Attendance issues
• Misconduct
• Failure to meet program expectations

Final decisions rest with the Campus Principal and/or the Athletic Director.

Acknowledgment

All homeschool students and parents/guardians must sign acknowledgment of:

• Understanding and agreement to Life School’s standards for homeschool student participation in UIL activities
• Compliance with UIL, District, Athletic, and Fine Arts handbook rules
• Acceptance of all participation responsibilities

Injury / Athletic Trainer / Medical Coverage

• Homeschool students receive access to athletic training services
• Must follow all injury reporting and return-to-play protocols (including concussion protocol)
• Life School is not responsible for outside medical expenses

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)