Bill Text: IL HB0160 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that a pupil shall be excused from engaging in a physical education course during a period of religious fasting if the pupil's parent or guardian notifies the school principal in writing that the pupil is participating in religious fasting. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-08-19 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0405 [HB0160 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2021-HB0160-Chaptered.html
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| Public Act 102-0405 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section | ||||
27-6 as follows:
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(105 ILCS 5/27-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
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Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special | ||||
activities.
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(a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State | ||||
universities engaged in
preparing teachers shall be required | ||||
to engage
during the school day, except on block scheduled | ||||
days for those public schools engaged in block scheduling, in | ||||
courses of physical education for such
periods as are
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compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of
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individuals at the various age levels except when appropriate | ||||
excuses
are submitted to the school by a pupil's parent or | ||||
guardian or by a person
licensed under the Medical Practice | ||||
Act of 1987 and except as provided in
subsection (b) of this | ||||
Section. A school board may determine the schedule or | ||||
frequency of physical education courses, provided that a pupil | ||||
engages in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 | ||||
days per 5-day week.
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Special activities in physical education shall be provided | ||||
for pupils
whose physical or emotional condition, as | ||
determined by a person licensed
under the Medical Practice Act | ||
of 1987, prevents their participation in the
courses provided | ||
for normal children.
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(b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
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in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education | ||
courses if those
pupils request to be excused for any of the | ||
following reasons: (1) for
ongoing participation in an | ||
interscholastic
athletic program; (2) to enroll in academic | ||
classes which are required for
admission to an institution of | ||
higher learning, provided that failure to
take such classes | ||
will result in the pupil being denied admission to the
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institution of his or her choice; or (3) to enroll in academic | ||
classes
which are required for graduation from high school, | ||
provided that failure to
take such classes will result in the | ||
pupil being unable to graduate. A school
board may also excuse | ||
pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in a marching band
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program for credit from engaging in physical education courses | ||
if those pupils
request to be excused for ongoing | ||
participation in such marching band
program. A school board | ||
may also, on a case-by-case basis, excuse pupils in grades 7 | ||
through 12 who participate in an interscholastic or | ||
extracurricular athletic program from engaging in physical | ||
education courses. In addition, a pupil
in any of grades 3 | ||
through 12 who is eligible for special education may be | ||
excused if the pupil's parent or guardian agrees that the | ||
pupil
must utilize the time set aside for physical education | ||
to receive special education support and services or, if there | ||
is no agreement, the individualized education program team for | ||
the pupil determines that the pupil must utilize the time set | ||
aside for physical education to receive special education | ||
support and services, which agreement or determination must be | ||
made a part of the individualized education program. However, | ||
a pupil requiring adapted physical education must receive that | ||
service in accordance with the individualized education | ||
program developed for the pupil. If requested, a school board | ||
is authorized to excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical | ||
education course if the pupil has an individualized | ||
educational program under Article 14 of this Code, is | ||
participating in an adaptive athletic program outside of the | ||
school setting, and documents such participation as determined | ||
by the school board. A school board may also excuse pupils in | ||
grades 9 through 12 enrolled
in a Reserve Officer's Training | ||
Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by the school
district from | ||
engaging in physical education courses.
School boards which | ||
choose to exercise this authority shall establish a policy
to | ||
excuse pupils on an individual basis.
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(b-5) A pupil shall be excused from engaging in any | ||
physical activity components of a physical education course | ||
during a period of religious fasting if the pupil's parent or | ||
guardian notifies the school principal in writing that the | ||
pupil is participating in religious fasting. | ||
(c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the | ||
provisions of
Section 27-22.05.
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(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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