Alabama's Tim Tebow Bill

The State of Alabama's

"Tim Tebow Bill"

"Every Child. Every Opportunity."

Welcome! We are a group of citizens of the great state of Alabama lobbying for our state public education establishment to allow homeschooled students equal access to sports and extracurricular activities. Legislation which would provide this access has been introduced into the Alabama Legislature. This effort began in 2005. Legislation was then submitted in 2006 in the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives.

We are deeply appreciative for the outstanding legislators who are willing to help our students and schools by sponsoring this legislation.

Our bill derives it's name from Tim Tebow (with his family's permission). Tim has attained the highest level of success of any football player in history at this point in his career. He was a homeschooled student who played football for a public high school team in Florida, led Neese High School to the 2005 state championship and played in 2006 as a true freshman on the National Championship Florida Gators team. As the Gators' starting quarterback in 2007, Tim lead his team to a very successful season. For his performance and character, Tim, in addition to the Heisman Trophy, also earned the Maxwell Award as the nation's top football player, the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback, and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport.

Also, 24 other states support some form of equal access for homeschoolers. It is time for Alabama to step up and support our hard-working homeschool educators, students, and student-athletes as well. We are urging the House and Senate Education Committees to bring these bills out of committee so that a full vote can be taken in the legislature. The passage of this law will not only benefit homeschool athletes and musicians, but it will also benefit the entire system of education in Alabama. The ultimate goal of any educational system should be to provide the services needed for all students to have a well rounded education. Extracurricular activities are one of those services, beyond academics, that help today’s children learn the skills they will need to be tomorrow’s leaders. USA Today said in a 2003 article that supporting homeschool choices “benefits children, their parents AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.”

Please join us today in our effort to make the future a better place for all students in Alabama!

Please call and write the House and Senate Education Committee members today!

Also, encourage your local public or private high school Alabama High School Athletic Association representative to propose a "rule change" to the AHSAA board which would permit homeschooled athletes in their district to participate in the community's school athletic programs.

Alabama State Motto: Audemus jura nostra defendere! (We dare defend our rights!)

Homeschooling and

The Tim Tebow Bill in the News

Alabama Legislators

Counting the Votes! Click here to see if your Legislators have pledged their support!

Visit our Supporters page too which includes people like Auburn's Head Swim Coach David Marsh, and Brenda Dickinson - Florida's full-time home education lobbyist since 1993.

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Facts & Statistics

Homeschooling is growing rapidly and there are an estimated 2 million homeschooled children in the US.
Alabama has an estimated 25,000 homeschooled children.
Research shows that homeschooled students score well above the national average on standardized tests.
Homeschool parents are tax-payers and voters.
24 other states allow some form of "Equal Access" where homeschooled students participate in extracurricular activities.
325 Homeschooled Athletes are currently playing NCAA Division I-A sports this year.

Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow with parents Bob & Pam Tebow

"Homeschooler Snaps Up Heisman Nomination" 12/6/07 -

"If the strapping 6’3” 235 lb. lad wins the Heisman, he’ll be making history on several counts..."

Former homeschooler who also enjoyed "equal access", Jason Taylor, is "Dancing With The Stars".

This year's NFL Man of the Year Award Winner and last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor has played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins for over a decade. The six-time All Pro formed the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004 and continues to be heavily involved throughout the South Florida community. Taylor holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a defensive lineman (7) and is the Dolphins all-time leader in quarterback sacks (117) and consecutive games played (130). Jason is married to Katina, and the couple reside in Weston, Fla., with their two sons, Isaiah Paul and Mason Paul, and daughter, Zoe Grace. Jason appeared on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" television show.

(January 7, 2007)

Photo Album

Our photo album filled

with pictures of Alabama homeschool students in action!

They are the reason we are fighting

for this bill!

Included are pictures from the public hearing Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

http://www.wvnn.com/dale.shtml -

The Dale Jackson Show, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - "The Tim Tebow Act"

NBC 13 - Thursday, March 26, 2009

"In Alabama there are over 25,000 homeschoolers..."

Oprah Winfrey comments on homeschooling "...homeschooling is an important contributor to the educational success of this country."

Homeschool Legal Defense article

"Good news for homeschoolers who want to receive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) scholarships ...

Home Education Magazine:

Ohio Mom's Article

Is anyone else tired of sitting in the back of the bus?...

January 7, 2007 - ESPN's Outside The Lines Special on Homeschooled Athletes featuring

the Guyse family from Decatur!

Click here to watch the show.

ESPN's Page 2 story - "Who's Eligible To Play High School Sports?"

Wall Builders Live, Tuesday March 6, 2007

Click here to listen to this broadcast.

Fort Payne Times-Journal - March 28, 2007

"...Ann and Jeff Nelson, are advocates for a bill that would allow homeschoolers..."

Montgomery, AL - AP Press - April 12, 2007

"Glencoe teen Austin Brown likes to play football and basketball and also enjoys spending time with his family..."

Northwest Alabama Times-Daily - May 15, 2007 -

Debate continues about home-school children participating in public school activities...

Daily Herald - January 27, 2008

In Our View: Let home-school kids...

HSLDA - Bright Spots: Chris Lam

ESPN: September 25, 2008

"On Fridays in the fall, Tate Forcier doesn't..."

Questions & Answers for the Opposition

Arkansas Senator Gilbert Baker speaks about

Arkansas' Tim Tebow Bill

How does the bill handle academic accountability?
What will it "cost" our public school system?
The bill states that homeschool students are required to meet the same residential requirements as the public school students.
What about discipline issues?
Is this going to allow the government to interfere with the rights of homeschoolers?
Religious Discrimination - a very real argument with a Supreme Court precedent.

For the answers to these questions and more...

Join our Cause

If you support this bill and would like to stay informed on the status of this bill, and be alerted when you can take action, please sign up now for email updates by joining our yahoo group.

This group is composed of parents from Alabama who support equal access to public and private school athletics for home-school students in Alabama. We are not legislators or paid lobbyist.

Our purpose is to do what is necessary to get either the AHSAA or the Alabama Legislature to change the rules so that the extracurricular opportunities are open and fair for all students of our state.

This yahoo group is for those who support this endeavor. It is a forum for sharing information and ideas to help our cause.

If you have questions about this measure, please check out the Questions & Answers page on this website.

Click to join the "alabamaequalaccess" yahoo group

Join our Facebook Group!

"Supporters of Alabama's

Tim Tebow Bill"

This site was last updated 02/08/2013

The State of Alabama's

"Tim Tebow Bill"

Links:

Homeschooling and

The Tim Tebow Bill in the News

Questions & Answers for the Opposition