093_HB2295

 
                                     LRB093 10225 AMC 10479 b

 1        AN ACT concerning education.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 5    Section 27-6 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/27-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
 7        Sec.  27-6.   Courses  in  physical  education  - Special
 8    activities.
 9        (a)  Pupils enrolled in  the  public  schools  and  State
10    universities  engaged in preparing teachers shall, as soon as
11    practicable, be required to engage daily, during  the  school
12    day, in courses of physical education for such periods as are
13    compatible  with  the optimum growth and development needs of
14    individuals at the various age levels except when appropriate
15    excuses are submitted to the school by a  pupil's  parent  or
16    guardian  or  by a person licensed under the Medical Practice
17    Act of 1987 and except as provided in subsection (b) of  this
18    Section.
19        Special   activities   in  physical  education  shall  be
20    provided for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as
21    determined by a person licensed under  the  Medical  Practice
22    Act  of  1987,  prevents  their  participation in the courses
23    provided for normal children.
24        (b)  A  school  board  is  authorized  to  excuse  pupils
25    enrolled in grades  11  and  12  from  engaging  in  physical
26    education  courses  if those pupils request to be excused for
27    any of the following reasons: (1) for  ongoing  participation
28    in  an  interscholastic  athletic  program;  (2) to enroll in
29    academic classes which  are  required  for  admission  to  an
30    institution of higher learning, provided that failure to take
31    such  classes will result in the pupil being denied admission
 
                            -2-      LRB093 10225 AMC 10479 b
 1    to the institution of his or her choice; or (3) to enroll  in
 2    academic  classes which are required for graduation from high
 3    school, provided that  failure  to  take  such  classes  will
 4    result  in the pupil being unable to graduate. A school board
 5    may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled  in  a
 6    marching  band  program  for credit from engaging in physical
 7    education courses if those pupils request to be  excused  for
 8    ongoing participation in such marching band program. A school
 9    board  may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled
10    in  a  Reserve  Officer's  Training  Corps   (ROTC)   program
11    sponsored  by  the  school district from engaging in physical
12    education courses. School boards  which  choose  to  exercise
13    this  authority  shall establish a policy to excuse pupils on
14    an individual basis.
15        (c)  The provisions of this Section are  subject  to  the
16    provisions of Section 27-22.05.
17    (Source: P.A.  88-269;  89-155,  eff.  7-19-95;  89-175, eff.
18    7-19-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

19        Section 99. Effective date.  This Act takes  effect  upon
20    becoming law.