Attending Prom

Q. This is our first year homeschooling, and our eldest son has been told he cannot attend public school events like the prom. Is there a law that allows homeschoolers to participate?

A. There is no law that requires a public school to allow a homeschooler to participate in public school extracurricular activities. The law allows each school board to decide if homeschoolers in their district can participate in specific academic courses as part-time students, but it does not include extracurricular activities. The school board sets policy for local schools to implement.

You could ask to see the school’s policy; it should be in writing. If he is attending an event with a student from the school, he may be able to attend as a guest. If they allow students from other schools to attend, but not homeschoolers, then that could be considered discrimination. A student who is not enrolled in the school, and plans to go to an event alone, may not be permitted because of security issues.