The Petersburg School District Board approved a policy allowing home school students to participate in activities at the high school without being enrolled in classes.

This policy has come about by a change in state law mandating this allowance.

“The students will have to fill out quite a bit of paperwork,” Petersburg School District Athletic Director Jaime Cabral said. “There is a long checklist that will have to be gone over with the student and their parents in order to make sure the information is correct.”

Each of the students wishing to participate will have to be enrolled in an accredited home school program and will undergo grade checks to meet grade minimums just as students enrolled in the high school must.

This change is for high school activities only and not for all activities. Class enrollment will be a requirement for participation in state music, art and world language programs.

A $500 per activity fee will be charged for home school students to offset the school’s costs for each sport.

According to Cabral, the fees for enrolled students may be increased this next year from $80 to $100 with a $300 cap for families with multiple students participating in sports or one student in more than three activities.

“We will hold an informational session this summer to discuss these programs and changes,” Cabral stated.