Purpose

This bill would allow resident students who are taught at home or in nonpublic schools to participate in extracurricular activities in public school districts on the same basis as public school students. It also clarifies who controls these activities and how they are funded and tracked.

Main Provisions

• Board control: The school board must take charge of and control all extracurricular activities of public school pupils in the district, and must ensure home-schooled students and resident pupils in nonpublic schools can participate on the same basis as public school students.
• Definition of extracurricular activities: Extracurricular activities are defined as all direct and personal services for pupils for their enjoyment that are managed and operated under the guidance of an adult or staff member.
• Characteristics of activities: Not offered for school credit or required for graduation; generally conducted outside school hours (or partly during) at times agreed by participants and approved by school authorities; content is determined primarily by the pupil participants with guidance from a staff member.
• Funding and accounting: Costs can be paid from school revenues, and all revenues and expenditures for these activities must be recorded in the same way as other district revenues and expenditures.
• Participation restrictions: Teachers or pupils in the district must not participate in such activities, and the school name or any allied name can only be used with the consent and direction of the board.
• Revenue use: The district must reserve revenue raised for extracurricular activities and spend that revenue only for extracurricular activities.
• Compliance and definitions: Participation by home-schooled or nonpublic school students must comply with applicable statutes (e.g., sections 120A.22 and 120A.24). The definition of “home school” is taken from 123B.36 subdivision 1.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands eligibility to participate: Resident pupils educated at home or in nonpublic schools would be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities in the public district on the same basis as public school students.
• Maintains board authority and governance: The board retains control over all extracurricular activities and the use of district resources related to those activities.
• Adds funding and accounting requirements: Explicitly requires that revenues and expenditures for extracurricular activities be recorded like other district revenues and expenditures, and that districts reserve and restrict funds for these activities.

Who Is Affected

• Public school districts and their boards.
• Resident pupils receiving home instruction or enrolled in nonpublic schools within the district.
• Teachers and students involved in extracurricular activities under district supervision.

Potential Implications

• Increased access for home-schooled and nonpublic school students to school-sponsored extracurricular activities.
• Clearer funding and accountability structure for extracurricular programs.
• Additional oversight by the school board over participation and branding of activities.

Relevant Terms extracurricular activities; resident pupil; home school; nonpublic school; public school students; board; Minnesota Statutes; 120A.22; 120A.24; 123B.36; not offered for school credit; not required for graduation; outside school hours; content determined by pupils; guidance of a staff member; revenues; expenditures; school revenues; consent and direction of the board; reserve revenue; spend revenue only for extracurricular activities.