Although the rights of homeschooled students have increased in recent years across the nation and in Fauquier County, there are still steps to be taken. According to the policies of the VHSL, or Virginia High School League, homeschooled students are not permitted to participate on public school athletic teams (Advocating for Homeschooled Children). This affects the more than 30,000 homeschoolers in Virginia (Chapman). To define, homeschool is “schooling that takes place outside of the public and private school context” (Rockholt). Because of the many physical, mental, and social benefits that playing on an athletic team provides, it is in the best interest of homeschool students and the entire educational community for them to be able to play on public school athletic teams. It is clear that homeschooled students will benefit academically when they participate on school athletic teams. Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between academic performance and time dedicated to athletic activity. These same studies have also shown that athletic activity enhances mental abilities such as memory and concentration (Strong and Malina). If homeschooled students play on school sports teams, they will be able to learn faster and more efficiently, increasing their chances of success later in life. This is demonstrated by the fact that students who are homeschooled and play on athletic teams have higher expectations about going to college than those who do not (Rockholt). Allowing homeschooled students to participate on athletic teams will increase their chances of success in their current education and higher education at the college level. If they didn't have these advantages that public school students have, namely the ability to play school sports... middle of paper..., it has been reported that the number of homeschooled students has increased from 850,000 to nearly 1 ,1 million. To put this in perspective, the percentage of homeschooled students increased from 1.7% in 1999 to 2.2% in 2003 (Bielick; Chapman). Others may say that if homeschoolers really want to play on school athletic teams, they should simply enroll in the public school system. However, families don't opt ​​for homeschooling for trivial reasons, they actually have real concerns about their children. According to parents, the reasons include: an inadequate learning environment at school (26%), religious reasons (38%) and the child has special needs/disabilities (8%) (Bielick). These are all rational reasons to opt for homeschooling, so students shouldn't have to choose between having an education that suits their needs or being able to play on school sports teams..