Connect with us

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Support grows for homeschooled athletes bill in 12th year in Missouri legislature

Published

on

missouriindependent.com – Annelise Hanshaw – 2025-03-24 13:00:00

by Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent
March 24, 2025

A bill that would require public schools to offer extracurricular activities to local homeschooled students is gaining traction after more than a decade of consideration by Missouri lawmakers.

High school senior Lydia Meredith, whose family annually drives from Joplin to testify in favor of the bill, told the Senate Education Committee in February it was her fourth time asking for them to pass the legislation.

Meredith was part of a competitive swimming team growing up and enjoyed racing with her friends. But when they reached high school, her friends joined the team at their public school. Meredith, who is homeschooled, was left behind.

“Before me came other Missouri students asking to be given the same opportunity to play for local sports teams, to join band or join a local debate team,” she said. “Every year this bill is not passed is another year the Missouri Legislature is complicit in denying key educational experiences for students.”

She said it was time for senators “to see this bill through to the end.”

For years, legislation seeking to give homeschooled students access to activities in public schools has been filed in Missouri. Most legislative sessions, the bill is passed by a committee but surpassed by other education priorities and never makes it to discussion by either legislative chamber.

The proposal was first offered in 2014, under then-Rep. Elijah Haahr, a Springfield Republican and homeschooled student who later became Missouri House speaker. The legislation didn’t make it to the House or Senate floor until 2021. The chamber gave its initial approval to the bill but never passed it to the Senate.

In 2023, the bill had its longest run, making it into a larger education package that passed the Senate with only two opposed and clearing a House committee late in session.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

SUBSCRIBE

This year, the Senate in February unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Ben Brown of Washington, and House leadership referred the bill to its education committee over legislative spring break. This is the fastest the legislation has passed its originating chamber.

The bill has also garnered approval by former critics. 

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, voted against the legislation in prior years but said during the Senate debate that she had changed her mind after hearing from homeschooling families.

“I really see the benefit of having students, and the more the merrier, be able to participate in activities,” she said.

Nurrenbern previously worried that public school and homeschool students could be held to different standards and access the same privileges.

A school counselor had those concerns in the committee hearing. Other opposition came from a homeschooling group called Family Covenant Ministries, which has concerns about applying the state’s homeschooling law to public activities.

Home educators in Missouri have been split over the years about bills that would expand opportunities for homeschoolers but connect them closer to state government. Some say it could open them up for more state oversight of homeschoolers, of which Missouri has very little.

In a large education package passed last year, lawmakers created a new category of homeschool called family-paced education. This group would be able to take advantage of the state’s education tax-credit program while allowing those wary of governmental intrusion to have separation in state law.

David Klarich, a lobbyist for Family Covenant Ministries, said Brown’s bill should only apply to family-paced education.

Another homeschooling organization, Families for Home Education, spoke in favor of the bill — not because of the extracurricular activities but for a provision that often evades discussion.

The bill seeks to remove a part of state law that describes a declaration of intent to homeschool. The declaration is optional and is intended to reduce truancy investigations.

Kim Quon, a director for Families for Home Education, said the law has had “the opposite effect.” Some families who have sent a letter of their intent to homeschool have reported the district did not remove their children from enrollment records.

“It has spurred many unnecessary discussions and investigations,” she said.

The organization has otherwise taken a neutral stance on the bill’s provisions on student athletes, according to its website.

The bill is one of 28 awaiting a hearing by the House Elementary and Secondary Education committee, of which only two are Senate bills.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com.

The post Support grows for homeschooled athletes bill in 12th year in Missouri legislature appeared first on missouriindependent.com

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Watch out for 'fly-by-night' contractors

Published

on

www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-09-12 11:59:14

SUMMARY: September is National Preparedness Month, reminding consumers to be cautious of “fly-by-night” contractors who often appear after storms, offering quick repairs for cash upfront but delivering poor or no work. These scammers frequently follow storms into new towns, promising great deals and falsely claiming local connections. The Better Business Bureau advises researching reliable contractors before disasters strike, as post-disaster urgency makes it easy to fall victim. Consumers should also review their insurance coverage to ensure proper protection. Resources like BBB and Ready.gov offer guides for preparedness, helping individuals plan ahead to avoid scams and make informed decisions during stressful times.

More information: BBB.org

Source

Continue Reading

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Adam Wainwright’s odd story around the 9/11 attacks

Published

on

fox2now.com – Joey Schneider – 2025-09-11 11:48:00

SUMMARY: Before debuting with the St. Louis Cardinals, Adam Wainwright had a close brush with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. In early September 2001, Wainwright and his brother Trey planned a trip to New York City, initially to see a Yankees game that was rained out. Instead, they visited the Empire State Building on Sept. 10, capturing a photo with the World Trade Center behind them. They planned to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sept. 11 but left New York early, narrowly avoiding the attacks. Wainwright later reflected on seeing smoke from the tragedy during their drive. He pitched for the Cardinals from 2005-2023, winning 200 games.

Read the full article

The post Adam Wainwright's odd story around the 9/11 attacks appeared first on fox2now.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Charlie Kirk shooting: Weapon recovered in woods near Utah college campus, FBI says

Published

on

www.ozarksfirst.com – Michael Bartiromo – 2025-09-11 08:42:00

SUMMARY: Charlie Kirk, conservative influencer and Turning Point USA co-founder, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University while speaking at an event. The FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety have not apprehended the suspect but tracked their movements before and after the shooting, including footage from the event and nearby doorbell cameras. The suspect, described as college-aged and blending with the crowd, allegedly shot Kirk from a distant rooftop using a high-powered bolt-action rifle, later abandoned in a wooded area. Authorities recovered physical evidence and urged the public to submit video footage. Two detained individuals were released, and the investigation continues.

Read the full article

The post Charlie Kirk shooting: Weapon recovered in woods near Utah college campus, FBI says appeared first on www.ozarksfirst.com

Continue Reading

Trending