Bill Text: NJ A3421 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to allow charter school students, county vocational school students, and students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in interscholastic sports programs on resident district's sports teams.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-06 - Assembly Floor Amendment Passed (Riley) [A3421 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3421-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to allow charter school students, county vocational school students, and students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in interscholastic sports programs on resident district's sports teams.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the participation of certain students in Statewide interscholastic sports programs and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A board of education shall permit a student who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-25 and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. A student who receives such instruction who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
a. provide proof that he resides in the district;
b. meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad;
c. demonstrate to the board of education that he is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and that he is academically qualified to participate; and
d. demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to an equivalent instructional program elsewhere than at school for athletic advantage. A student who withdraws from a public school to receive an equivalent instructional program elsewhere than at school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the public school due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition.
2. A board of education shall permit a student who attends a charter school and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the charter school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. A student who attends a charter school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
a. provide proof that he resides in the district;
b. meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A charter school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad; and
c. demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to a charter school for athletic advantage. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a charter school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition.
3. A board of education shall permit a student who attends a county vocational school on a full-time or shared-time basis and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the county vocational school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. A student who attends a county vocational school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
a. provide proof that he resides in the district;
b. meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A county vocational school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad; and
c. demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to a county vocational school for athletic advantage. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a county vocational school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to allow students who receive equivalent instruction other than at school, and students who attend charter schools or county vocational schools to participate in interscholastic sports programs in the student's resident district in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district.
Under the bill, a student who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school who wishes to compete in school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in his resident district must:
� provide proof that he resides in the district;
� meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student must comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad;
� meet the eligibility rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA);
� demonstrate to the board of education that he is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and that he is academically qualified to participate; and
� demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to an equivalent instructional program for athletic advantage.
Under the bill, a charter school student or county vocational school student may try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence if the charter school or county vocational school, respectively, does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. A charter school student or county vocational school student who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district must:
� provide proof that he resides in the district;
� meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district and comply with the same standards as all other members of the team or squad;
� meet the eligibility rules of the NJSIAA; and
� demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to a charter school or county vocational school, respectively, for athletic advantage.
