Senate OKs bill on school activities

A bill that would allow charter and online school students to participate in extracurricular activities at their home boundary schools got a nod from the Senate Monday.

SB36 would require public schools to allow charter and online students access to public school extracurricular programs through their neighborhood school.

Currently some districts allow charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities, while others do not — something bill sponsor Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, says is an inequity.

But the Utah State School Board and Utah High School Activities Association have both said the bill is unnecessary and some education leaders say districts and charters should be able to work out the issue on a local level.