NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School Board of Trustees may soon decide if homeschool students can participate in Natchez High School sports programs.

At a specially called meeting last week, the board discussed new or updated policies regarding students and staff. Two discussions, including what is dubbed the Tim Tebow rule stood out.

Named after the University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner, the rule allows homeschool students to try out for public school teams. They have to meet academic requirements and can only play for the school in which they are zoned.

Superintendent Frederick Hill said no homeschool student had inquired about joining a program.

“It’s a problem we haven’t had,” he said.

Board president Tim Blalock and board member Benny Wright were concerned about grades.

“On the football team, baseball team and whatever team, our head coaches always say that we are scholars first, and athletes second,” he said. “All have to maintain a GPA — we can’t just let mom say they have got an A.”

Wright wondered if the school could come up with a way to verify homeschool students.

“If we have a student coming into the district from homeschool who wants to play football, do we have a mechanism to test his readiness for football?” he said.

Board member Cynthia Smith wondered testing homeschool students was something the district should even get into.

“I know we have some good homeschool programs, and some not,” she said. “I know my daughter-in-law in Kentucky, who homeschools my grandkids, has to follow through or the state department will come in. She has to take attendance and report on what the program is doing.”

Hill said only one type of homeschool program in Mississippi exists, and that’s one that’s accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education.

“I don’t want to get into us trying to supersede MDE policy,” he said.

Wright said he simply wanted to make sure all area students had equal opportunities.

“If they can pass the bar, they can play,” he said. “If they don’t, they can’t.”

Hill said testing students would come with a cost.

“That’s a cost we don’t get dollars for,” he said.