Ohio Student Athlete Mobility Act (SAM Act): What Parents & Homebuyers Need to Know

For families with school-age children, choosing where to live often involves much more than finding the right house.

School district boundaries, academic programs, extracurricular activities, athletics, transportation, private-school options and other opportunities can all become part of the conversation.

Ohio has enacted a new law affecting extracurricular participation beginning with the 2026-27 school year. The Student Athlete Mobility Act, commonly called the SAM Act, takes effect October 6, 2026.

The new law creates a process through which certain students attending public schools may petition to participate in an extracurricular activity at another public high school when their own school does not offer that activity.

For Ohio families, here's what you should know.

What Is Ohio's Student Athlete Mobility Act?

The Student Athlete Mobility Act is found in Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.5321.

Under the new law, public school districts and qualifying public high schools must establish policies allowing an eligible student to petition to participate in an extracurricular activity at a neighboring public high school when the student's enrolled school does not offer that activity.

One important distinction: despite its name, the SAM Act isn't written exclusively around athletics. The statute uses the broader term “extracurricular activity,” which is defined under Ohio law as a pupil activity program operated by a school or school district that isn't included in the graded course of study.

The law includes traditional public schools as well as certain community schools and STEM schools.

And this is important: the SAM Act does not mean a student can simply choose any neighboring school or athletic team.

There is a specific process involved.

How Does the Ohio SAM Act Work?

If a student's public high school doesn't offer a particular qualifying extracurricular activity, the student may be able to petition to participate at an eligible neighboring public high school that does.

Approval isn't automatic.

The student's superintendent and the superintendent or chief administrative officer of the neighboring school must approve the participation.

The student's current superintendent must also certify that the student hasn't already participated in that same activity within the district during that school year.

If the student's district operates multiple high schools and another high school within the district offers the activity, additional rules apply to which school the student may petition to participate at.

A student also cannot participate in the same activity at more than one high school during the same school year.

Does the SAM Act Guarantee a Spot on a Team?

No.

Students participating under the SAM Act must satisfy applicable requirements just like other participants.

Those requirements can include:

• age and grade-level requirements

• academic eligibility

• nonacademic requirements

• financial requirements or participation fees

• tryouts and team-selection requirements

In other words, the SAM Act creates an opportunity to petition for participation. It does not guarantee a roster position, playing time or a particular level of competition.

There's another important limitation.

A student cannot qualify under the SAM Act solely because their school doesn't offer the particular competition level they want.

For example, the existence of a junior varsity team but not a varsity team would not, by itself, make a student eligible to participate elsewhere under this provision.

What Counts as a “Neighboring School” in Ohio?

This may be one of the most important parts of the law for parents to understand.

“Neighboring school” has a specific legal definition under the SAM Act. Depending upon the type of public school a student attends, eligible schools can include high schools within the student's own district, high schools operated by directly bordering school districts, and certain other public high schools located within those territories.

That means eligibility isn't necessarily determined by which high school is physically closest to your house.

Families should not assume that a particular school qualifies as a neighboring school simply because it's nearby.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has published a school district map and additional SAM Act guidance to help schools implement the new requirements.

What About Community Schools and STEM Schools?

The SAM Act also addresses students attending community schools and STEM schools.

That's potentially important for families who have chosen an alternative public-school setting that doesn't offer every extracurricular activity available at a traditional public high school.

Depending upon the student's circumstances and the location of the school, the SAM Act may provide an additional participation option.

However, determining which school qualifies and whether an individual student is eligible can depend upon several factors. Families should confirm their situation with their school administration before making decisions based upon potential eligibility.

Can Schools Combine Students to Create a Team?

The law also provides another interesting option.

Qualifying neighboring public schools may partner to establish a single team for an activity if neither school independently has enough students willing to participate.

Ohio law establishes requirements for determining when a school has an insufficient number of students, so this isn't simply an informal arrangement between schools.

For smaller districts, this provision could potentially create another way for certain extracurricular opportunities to continue when participation numbers are limited.

Why Does the SAM Act Matter When You're Buying a Home?

This is where school policy and real estate can intersect.

When I'm helping families move, I regularly hear questions like:

“Which school district is this house in?”

“Does the high school offer my child's sport?”

“What extracurricular programs are available?”

“What other school options are nearby?”

Those are understandable questions, but the answers can sometimes be more complicated than they initially appear.

Where a home is located still determines its resident public school district. School districts can also differ in programming, transportation, enrollment policies, extracurricular offerings and other services.

The SAM Act doesn't change those fundamental considerations.

What it does do is add another piece of information Ohio families may want to understand when researching their educational and extracurricular options.

Questions Parents Should Ask

If a particular sport or extracurricular activity is important to your family, consider asking:

1. Which public school district serves our home?

2. Which high school would my child ordinarily attend?

3. Does that school currently offer my child's activity?

4. If not, could the Student Athlete Mobility Act apply?

5. Which schools qualify as neighboring schools under the law?

6. What is our district's SAM Act petition process?

7. What approvals are required?

8. Are there participation fees, transportation responsibilities or other costs?

9. What academic and extracurricular eligibility requirements apply?

10. Who should confirm my child's eligibility before we make decisions based upon it?

Official Ohio SAM Act Resources

Because this is a new law and implementation guidance can evolve, I recommend going directly to the official sources.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association's Enrollment & Attendance Resource Center now includes:

• SAM Act guidance

• superintendent forms

• guidance for multi-high-school districts

• SAM Act business rules

• a chart outlining non-enrolled participation opportunities

• an Ohio school district map

You can access the OHSAA SAM Act resources through OHSAA's Enrollment & Attendance Resource Center.

Families can also review Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.5321, which contains the statutory requirements for extracurricular participation at another public school.

For individual athletic eligibility questions, OHSAA recommends that parents begin with their school's administrator or athletic administrator.

Considering a Move in Springfield or Clark County?

School district boundaries are just one part of choosing the right location for your family.

As a local REALTOR® and Broker Associate, I can help you identify the school district associated with a property, explore neighborhoods and housing options, understand property taxes and connect you with reliable resources so you can conduct your own research into the schools and programs that matter to your family.

What I can't do is determine whether a particular child will qualify to participate in a specific program under the SAM Act. That determination belongs with the appropriate schools and athletic administrators.

If you're considering a move within Springfield, Clark County or the surrounding Central and Southwest Ohio communities, I'd be happy to help you understand the real estate side of the equation.

Have questions about buying, selling or relocating in the Springfield and Clark County area? Contact Sara Foulk, REALTOR® and Broker Associate with Champion Group | eXp Realty.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. School programs, district policies, extracurricular offerings, athletic eligibility requirements and state law can change. Families should verify current information and individual eligibility directly with the applicable school district, school and athletic governing organization.

OHSAA Enrollment & Attendance Bylaw Resource Center
Ohio Revised Code §3313.5321