A Virginia lawmaker is vowing not to give up the quest for equal rights for homeschooled students who want to play sports on public school teams.
Virginia's Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe just vetoed a bill that would have granted that option.
The bill is nicknamed The Tebow Bill after former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who was homeschooled.
Virginia Delegate Brenda Pogge told CBN News that current law is not fair to home-educated students or their parents.
"Over 32,000 students are home-educated in the Commonwealth. Their parents are not only saving the localities and the Commonwealth money, but they are also paying property taxes, despite the fact their children's education does not benefit from these tax dollars," Pogge said.
"Homeschooling parents bear the total cost of their children's education. I think it is only fair to allow these children to participate with their peers in sports competition," she explained.
Pogge said there aren't enough votes to override McAuliffe's veto this time around.
But she said pro-homeschool lawmakers have made a lot of progress over the last seven to eight years of fighting for The Tebow Bill, and she predicts the bill will eventually become law in Virginia.
"The Tebow Bill will be reintroduced, and eventually the legislation will pass. Likewise, during each legislative session, my House colleagues and I will continue working to implement reforms and expand choices in education," she told CBN News.
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