SB 1822

In the 2026-2027 school year, and each school year thereafter, if a public high school established under the jurisdiction of an LEA to serve students in any of the grades 9-12 is a member of an organization or an association that regulates interscholasti c athletic competition, then this bill requires the LEA to permit participation in interscholastic athletics offered at the public high school by a high school student who meets all of the following criteria:  Is enrolled in a private school that serves fewer than 200 students and is located within the geographic boundaries of the LEA.  Satisfies the eligibility requirements established by the organization or association.  Resides within the geographic boundaries of the LEA. However, this bill authorizes such a high school student to only participate in interscholastic athletics at the public high school that the student is zoned to attend. NON-MEMBER SCHOOLS In the 2026-2027 school year, and each school year thereafter, if a public high school established under the jurisdiction of an LEA offers its students the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletic competition at the public high school witho ut the school being a member of an organization or an association that regulates interscholastic athletic competition, then this bill requires the LEA to permit participation in interscholastic athletics at the public high school by a high school student wh o is enrolled in a private school as described above and who is zoned to attend the public high school. However, such provision does not prevent or interfere with the application and enforcement of any eligibility requirements of an organization or assoc iation that regulates interscholastic athletic competition if the public high school at which the student seeks to participate in interscholastic athletics is a member of such an organization or association. AUTHORITY OF COACHES AND ORGANIZATION/ASSOCIATION This bill clarifies that its provisions do not guarantee that a high school student who is enrolled in a private school as described above and who is trying out for an interscholastic athletics team at a public high school will make the team or supplant the authority of any coaches or other school officials in deciding who makes the team. Further, this bill does not limit or supplant the authority of any organization or association to determine eligibility and to establish, modify, and enforce its rules a nd eligibility requirements, including those applicable to private school students. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1822, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 removes the requirement that a private school student's high school must be located within the geographic boundaries of the LEA in order to eligible for participation in athletic programs at the student's zoned public high school under this b ill. ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1822 FOR HOUSE BILL 1785, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND RESET SENATE BILL 1822, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes this bill applicable to public schools that serve students in any of the grades 6-12, instead of 9-12, and changes the criteria for private schools that a student may attend and remain eligible to participate in public school athletic programs to a private school that is not a member of the interscholastic athletic organization or association that the student's zoned school is a member of and that serves fewer than 200 students in grades 6-8 or fewer than 200 students in grades 9-12. Th is amendment also adds that it only allows for a private school student to participate in public school sports that are not offered by the student's private school.