We believe that the idea of allowing homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities such as athletics and band has merit and deserves consideration.

A House bill filed by state Rep. Brad Montell, R-Shelbyville, would allow homeschooled students to participate in public school sports, music events and other extracurricular activities.

House Bill 179 is referred to as the Tim Tebow Bill for the University of Florida quarterback, who was homeschooled but was allowed to participate in public high school athletics.

The bill states homeschooled students wouldn’t be “discriminated against” from participating in interscholastic extracurricular activities after guidelines are determined for student enrollment and a waiting period is specified for when a student transfers from a public school to a home school.

Twenty-four other states have already passed laws to allow equal extracurricular access, yet many of their eligibility requirements differ.

Nine other states, including Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, are proposing similar legislation.

The rising number of homeschooled children, a 30 percent increase since 1999, underscores the need to carefully consider this bill. After all the parents of these children pay the same taxes as children enrolled in public schools, which help pay for extracurricular activities.

Their absence from the classroom actually saves the school system money by requiring fewer facilities, teachers and support staff.

Bowling Green Independent Schools Superintendent Joe Tinius raises some valid questions and concerns about how the law would be implemented, such as student liability insurance, conduct issues that could arise, attendance and academic standards.

Tinius also said he was concerned about the message the bill sends as a whole.

Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Dale Brown said he has a lot of questions about the bill as well.

But Jim Waters, director of policy and communications for the Bluegrass Institute, a free market think tank and parent of three homeschooled children, said he and other homeschooled parents help pay for the school facilities and that it’s only fair that their children be able to use them to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Waters said when it comes to conduct, homeschooled students are the last ones Tinius or others should be concerned about.

“Homeschooled children aren’t going to be a problem,” Waters said.

Waters said these questions and concerns can be solved.

Waters said as far as the liability issues, he and other homeschooled parents would be glad to sit down with Tinius and others to talk about these issues.

There are legitimate questions and concerns on both sides of the issue. They need to be further addressed and answered, but these same types of questions likely arose in the 24 states that have similar laws and were ultimately resolved.

Hopefully, the bill, which is currently in the House education committee, will be discussed and these questions answered.