AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO HOMESCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

Added WHEREAS clauses establishing policy justification, including data on 4,466 homeschooled students in Delaware as of October 2023, research on social and mental health benefits of extracurricular participation, and the intent to explore a pilot program.

The bill changed from a House Amendment making two targeted line edits (removing 'and' before 'vocational' and adding homeschool community representatives as collaborators) into a complete standalone act. The specific named organizations (Tri-State Homeschool, Inc., Delaware First State Homeschool, MidAtlantic African American Homeschooling Cooperative) that were added in the amendment are not present in the final text; instead, the bill broadly references collaboration with school districts, charter schools, and vocational-technical school districts.

Sponsorship expanded from a single sponsor (Rep. Neal) to include Sen. Hocker as co-sponsor plus 28 additional cosponsors from both chambers.

Added Section 1 defining four key terms: Department, Extracurricular activity (public school-sponsored voluntary activities including performances, contests, athletics, displays, and clubs), Homeschool (referencing Title 14 Section 2703A), and School of residence (the public school a student would attend based on address).

Added Section 2 requiring the Department to make findings and recommendations on 11 specific topics, including advisability of a pilot program, feasibility at schools of residence, charter schools, and vocational-technical schools, cost considerations, grade-level distinctions (K-5, 6-8, 9-12), potential eligibility criteria, and impact on public school students.

Added Section 3 setting a deadline of December 31, 2027 for the Department to submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, Governor, Controller General, and Division of Legislative Services.

Added Section 4 establishing that the Act expires on the date a notice is published in the Register of Regulations confirming the report was submitted, with the Director of Legislative Services responsible for providing written notice to the Registrar.