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 programfor creditfrom 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.