FFLC Asks for Preliminary Injunction in Home School Sports Case

This week, FFLC attorneys were in federal court in Roanoke to argue that our client, a 9th-grade homeschooler who wants to run track and cross country, should be able to run with his local public high school team. This preliminary injunction hearing is a critical first step in our fight to ensure that our client - and hopefully all home-schooled children in Virginia - can finally get the chance to play the sports they love with their local high school teams. 

Our message is simple: Public school sports is a government benefit that should not be denied to kids simply because their parents choose to educate them at home, especially when it’s because of their religious convictions. They already pay taxes that go to public schools, but they are denied the equal protection of the law. They should get to try out, just like all their peers. 

After two hours of robust arguments, the judge did not rule on the spot, but decided to take some time to deliberate and write an opinion. Please be in prayer as the judge is making her decision in the coming days about whether our client will be allowed to start running now while the legal challenge makes its way through the stages of litigation. 

A number of news outlets covered this most recent development, indicating the widespread interest in the outcome of this case, not just for our clients, but for the more than 66,000 home schooled students in Virginia. Here are some of the articles.

ABC 13: Judge expected to rule on injunction for Virginia homeschool runner’s VHSL case

WDBJ 7: Roanoke County family challenges VHSL policy banning homeschool athletes from public sports

For more information about this case, click here:  FFLC Files Lawsuit to Allow Home Schoolers to Play High School Sports