Bill Text: IL SB2157 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that, if requested, a school board is authorized to excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if the pupil has an intellectual or physical disability, is participating in an athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents such participation as determined by the school board. Effective July 1, 2013.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-6)

Status: (Passed) 2013-07-29 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0116 [SB2157 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SB2157-Introduced.html

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98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2013 and 2014 SB2157 Introduced 2/15/2013, by Sen. Bill Cunningham SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/27-6 from Ch. 122, par. 27-6
Amends the School Code. Provides that, if requested, a school board is authorized to excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if the pupil has an intellectual or physical disability, is participating in an athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents such participation as determined by the school board. Effective July 1, 2013.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
27-6 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/27-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special
activities.
(a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State
universities engaged in preparing teachers shall be required to
engage daily 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
compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of
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.
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

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children.
(b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
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 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 program for credit from engaging in
physical education courses if those pupils request to be
excused for ongoing participation in such marching band
program. 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

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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 intellectual or physical disability, is
participating in an 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.
(c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
provisions of Section 27-22.05.
(Source: P.A. 94-189, eff. 7-12-05; 94-198, eff. 1-1-06;
94-200, eff. 7-12-05; 94-1098, eff. 2-2-07; 95-331, eff.
8-21-07.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2013.