TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – More private school students could soon be on public school sports teams in Florida.

A bill expanding private school student eligibility for public school athletics passed its first committee Tuesday. The idea of the bill is to create a level playing field for all students in the state.

“The best thing we can do for our kids is to give them options to play in sports,” Community Leadership Academy founder Peter Boulware said.

Community Leadership Academy offers some sports, but Boulware aims to match his students with more athletic opportunities.

“Get them involved, get them playing, get them in something. The more we can do that, the opportunities we can give our students the better we can make our students,” Boulware said.

Florida politics:

Private school students can now participate on their public school’s athletic teams if the private school has fewer than 200 members and is not a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association.

“We can’t be members because we want our kids to have access to sports and have access to do things,” Boulware said.

A House committee advanced a bill Tuesday eliminating those penalties. Rep. Fiona McFarland, (R) Sarasota, said the spirit of the bill is to help parents navigate the school choice field.

“If you’re a parent and you’re school journey for your child, do you choose sports or do you choose academics or do you try to meet in the middle somewhere? This removes that trade-off,” Rep. McFarland said.

Community Leadership Academy would join the FHSAA if this proposal passes. Boulware said it would be a win-win for everyone.

“We believe if we get under that and participate it would make us a better school, it will make our athletes better, but it will also give us access to other things we can do for our school and our students,” Boulware said.

This was the first bill to get a hearing for the regular session, which starts March 4.

So far, lawmakers have filed more than 400 bills to be considered.

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