99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB2536

 

Introduced 2/18/2015, by Rep. Michael W. Tryon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-6  from Ch. 122, par. 27-6

    Amends the School Code. Permits a school board to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request to be excused and are enrolled in 2 or more Advanced Placement (AP) courses.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-6 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
7    Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special
8activities.
9    (a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State
10universities engaged in preparing teachers shall be required to
11engage daily during the school day, except on block scheduled
12days for those public schools engaged in block scheduling, in
13courses of physical education for such periods as are
14compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of
15individuals at the various age levels except when appropriate
16excuses are submitted to the school by a pupil's parent or
17guardian or by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act
18of 1987 and except as provided in subsection (b) of this
19Section.
20    Special activities in physical education shall be provided
21for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as determined
22by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987,
23prevents their participation in the courses provided for normal

 

 

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1children.
2    (b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
3in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education courses
4if those pupils request to be excused for any of the following
5reasons: (1) for ongoing participation in an interscholastic
6athletic program; (2) to enroll in academic classes which are
7required for admission to an institution of higher learning,
8provided that failure to take such classes will result in the
9pupil being denied admission to the institution of his or her
10choice; or (3) to enroll in academic classes which are required
11for graduation from high school, provided that failure to take
12such classes will result in the pupil being unable to graduate.
13A school board may excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from
14engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request
15to be excused and are enrolled in 2 or more Advanced Placement
16(AP) courses. A school board may also excuse pupils in grades 9
17through 12 enrolled in a marching band program for credit from
18engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request
19to be excused for ongoing participation in such marching band
20program. In addition, a pupil in any of grades 3 through 12 who
21is eligible for special education may be excused if the pupil's
22parent or guardian agrees that the pupil must utilize the time
23set aside for physical education to receive special education
24support and services or, if there is no agreement, the
25individualized education program team for the pupil determines
26that the pupil must utilize the time set aside for physical

 

 

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1education to receive special education support and services,
2which agreement or determination must be made a part of the
3individualized education program. However, a pupil requiring
4adapted physical education must receive that service in
5accordance with the individualized education program developed
6for the pupil. If requested, a school board is authorized to
7excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if
8the pupil has an individualized educational program under
9Article 14 of this Code, is participating in an adaptive
10athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents
11such participation as determined by the school board. A school
12board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in
13a Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by
14the school district from engaging in physical education
15courses. School boards which choose to exercise this authority
16shall establish a policy to excuse pupils on an individual
17basis.
18    (c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
19provisions of Section 27-22.05.
20(Source: P.A. 98-116, eff. 7-29-13.)