Nontraditional Student Participation in Athletics/Activities

Senate Bill 63, passed during the 2025 Missouri legislative session, includes updates related to participation in public school extracurricular activities for nontraditional students. The bill states that students who are full-time in home school, Family Paced Education (FPE) or virtual school programs may be eligible to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities offered by the District, provided they meet the requirements outlined below.

This includes students who reside within the Mexico Public Schools attendance boundaries but are not enrolled full-time in the district.

• Eligibility & Participation Overview
• Eligible students may try out for district-sponsored extracurricular teams and clubs. Participation is contingent on successfully meeting tryout or qualification requirements, where applicable.
• Students wishing to participate in co-curricular activities – such as Choir, Band, Theatre, Speech & Debate, FFA, etc. – that are directly tied to a course must be enrolled in that specific course to participate.

All students must live within the Mexico Public Schools attendance boundaries to participate.

• All participating students – regardless of enrollment status – must meet the same requirements as enrolled students:

  • Academic eligibility

  • Citizenship/conduct standards

  • Valid physical exams (for athletics)

  • Applicable participation fees

  • Compliance with the District’s Student Code of Conduct

  • Inclusion in the District’s random student drug testing program (for all activities)

Students may not participate in both Bulldog-sponsored athletics/activities and those offered by home school associations simultaneously.

Important to note: Students who withdraw from Mexico Public Schools and start attending full-time home school can still participate in athletics and activities. However, the student must be eligible by academic and citizenship standards at the time of withdrawal.

Please review the full text of the bill for details. 

For additional questions, please email Brandon Schafer, Director of Athletics and Activities.