Sports Access — Play for Your Public School
Yes, ISP students can play Friday night football
The Big Question
"If my kid goes to ISP, can they still play sports?"
Yes. Iowa law guarantees it.
House File 189: The Law
In June 2025, Iowa passed House File 189 — a law that requires public schools to allow private school students to play sports.
This isn't a request. It's not optional. The law says school districts "shall allow" participation.
| What the Law Says | What It Means for Your Family |
|---|---|
| Districts "shall allow" participation | They must let your child play — no exceptions |
| Student must live in the district (or a neighboring district) | If you live in Waukee, your child can play for Waukee |
| Sport must not be offered by the private school | ISP doesn't offer any IHSAA sports, so all qualify |
| Agreement required between ISP and the district | ISP handles this — you don't have to negotiate |
How It Works
Step 1: You Enroll in ISP
Your child becomes an ISP student with full academic enrollment.
Step 2: ISP Sets Up the Agreement
We establish an eligibility agreement with your local school district. This is a one-time setup — we handle the paperwork.
Interested in a specific district? Let us know when you join the waitlist, and we'll prioritize agreements for districts with enrolled families.
Step 3: Your Child Plays
Show up to tryouts, make the team, compete. Same as any other student.
That's It
You don't need to negotiate with the school. You don't need to prove anything special. ISP handles the paperwork, and Iowa law handles the rest.
What Sports Qualify?
All of them.
ISP doesn't offer any IHSAA-sanctioned sports, which means your child can participate in any sport offered by the public school:
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Basketball | Baseball |
| Volleyball | Wrestling | Softball |
| Cross Country | Swimming | Track & Field |
| Soccer | Bowling | Golf |
| Tennis | ||
| Soccer |
What You Pay
The same participation fees as any public school student. ISP doesn't add any charges.
| Expense | Who Pays |
|---|---|
| Participation fees | You (same as public students) |
| Equipment/uniforms | You (same as public students) |
| Training Credits | ISP allocates $100/month toward training |
Note: Your $100/month Training Credits can help cover sports fees. That's $1,000/year for training and participation costs.
What About Neighboring Districts?
The law also allows students to play for a contiguous district (a neighboring district) under certain conditions.
But this is not for team-shopping. If you're trying to switch to a rival school's "better team," IHSAA rules still prohibit athletic-motivated transfers.
Legitimate reasons to use the contiguous district option:
- You live on the district border and the neighboring school is closer
- Your home district doesn't offer the sport
- Family situation (split custody, etc.)
ISP's position: Students play for their home district. We don't facilitate district-shopping.
Making It Work: What to Expect
The law guarantees access, but success requires understanding the realities of playing for a school you don't attend.
The Good Conduct Policy (Dual Accountability)
Here's something important: Your child must follow both ISP's code of conduct and the public school's athletic code of conduct.
| Policy Source | What It Covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| ISP | Academic expectations, attendance, MyPath engagement | Complete daily work, attend SSC calls |
| Public School | Athletic eligibility, behavior standards | No tobacco/alcohol, academic eligibility checks, team rules |
Bottom line: Two sets of rules, both enforced. Your child represents ISP and their school team.
Building Team Bonds
Let's be honest: Your child won't be in the hallways with their teammates. They're "part of the team" on Friday nights but not in the cafeteria on Monday.
This can feel isolating. The research shows that HF 189 athletes sometimes feel like "outsiders" because they didn't grow up in the district's sports pipeline.
How to succeed:
- Show up early, stay late. Be present at every optional event — not just required ones.
- Attend morning lifts. Many programs have 6:00-7:30 AM strength sessions. Missing them signals lack of commitment.
- Join the group chats. Ask teammates to add you to team text threads.
- Go to booster events. Parents can join the booster club — it signals investment in the program.
ISP's approach: We prep students for this reality. Your SSC will help navigate the social dynamics and ensure your child is ready to integrate, not just participate.
The "Early Bird" Culture
In competitive programs (football, wrestling, basketball), morning lifts aren't optional — they're expected.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:00 - 7:30 AM | School-based strength & conditioning |
| 3:30 - 5:30 PM | Team practice |
ISP advantage: With 2-hour academics, your child can do morning lifts, go home to do schoolwork, and still have time to recover before afternoon practice. Traditional school students do morning lifts → 7 hours of class → 2 hours of practice. They're exhausted. Your child won't be.
FAQ
Q: Does this really work? Districts have to allow it?
A: Yes. The law uses "shall allow" language — it's mandatory, not discretionary. Districts cannot refuse if your child meets the requirements.
Q: What if the school gives us a hard time?
A: Contact ISP. We'll work with the district to resolve any issues. The law is on your side.
Q: Do I need to do anything to set this up?
A: No. ISP establishes the eligibility agreement with your district. You just show up for the sport.
Q: What if I'm homeschooling — does this apply?
A: Homeschoolers have a different pathway (dual enrollment). HF 189 specifically applies to private school students like ISP students. If you're currently homeschooling and considering ISP, this is one of the benefits of enrolling.
Q: Does my child count toward the school's enrollment for classification?
A: Yes, but only as one-fourth of a student for classification purposes. This means ISP students won't "bump up" small schools to larger classifications.
Q: Can my child play multiple sports?
A: Yes. ISP's 2-hour academic day means more time for training and competition. Many of our students are multi-sport athletes.
Q: What about travel for tournaments?
A: That's the ISP advantage. Academic work can be done from anywhere with internet. No missing school for away games.
The ISP Advantage for Athletes
| Traditional Private School | ISP |
|---|---|
| May or may not have sports | Public school sports guaranteed by law |
| Fixed schedule conflicts with practice | 2-hour academics = train when you're fresh |
| Miss school for away games | Do academics from the team bus |
| No training support | $100/month Training Credits |
ISP doesn't make you choose between academics and athletics. You get both.
More Questions?
For the Detail-Oriented: The Legal Fine Print
Most families don't need this, but if you want to understand the law:
The "Two-Year Rule"
HF 189 applies when the private school has not offered the sport for the two immediately preceding school years. Since ISP doesn't offer ANY IHSAA sports (and never has), this requirement is automatically satisfied for every sport.
The Contiguous District Option
The law allows participation in your home district OR a contiguous (neighboring) district under certain conditions. However:
- IHSAA rules still prohibit athletic-motivated transfers
- If you're switching districts to play for a "better team," you may be ruled ineligible
- This option exists for legitimate situations (living on a border, home district doesn't offer the sport)
ISP's position: Students play for their home district. We don't facilitate district-shopping.
The 1/4 Enrollment Rule
For athletic classification purposes (determining if a school is 3A vs. 4A, etc.), nonpublic students count as one-fourth of their enrollment value. This means ISP students won't significantly impact a school's classification.
The Full Law
Want to read it yourself? Search for "Iowa House File 189 (2025)" or visit legiscan.com.
Source: Iowa House File 189 (2025)