Florida’s Rewritten Craig Dickinson Act Keeps Sports Open to Home Education Students
Local Homeschool News: Florida
Florida home education students still have a clear path to school sports and activities. A 2026 law, SB 538, rewrote the Craig Dickinson Act, which has opened public school extracurriculars to home education students for nearly 30 years. The governor approved the bill on May 22, and it took effect July 1, 2026 (Florida Senate).
The bill drew wide support. It passed the Senate 38-0 and the House 104-6 (Florida Senate).
The Home Education Foundation followed the bill closely. It calls the protection of evaluation rights the biggest win. Home education students will still show academic progress by a method the parent and principal agree on, tied to the home education law (Home Education Foundation).
Here are some other key points from the foundation’s review (Home Education Foundation):
- All students now fall under one “eligible student” term.
- Home education students may play at any school in their district.
- Activities are not just sports. Clubs and other school-authorized activities count too.
- Home education students pay only the fees that enrolled students also pay.
- PEP scholarship students may be charged capped fees, but only if the school board votes on them and posts them by July 1.
Families should check their school’s posted fee list before the season starts. For more, see our Florida Homeschool Laws page and our Florida Pending Homeschool Legislation post.
Sources:
- Jason Crawford, “Everything You Need to Know About the Rewrite of Homeschool Extracurriculars,” Home Education Foundation, March 11, 2026
- Florida Senate: CS/CS/CS/SB 538 (2026), Extracurricular Activities
- Florida Statutes § 1006.15