Public Act 094-0189
 		





HB1540 Enrolled
LRB094 05657 AMC 35706 b






    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 Sections 
27-6 and 27-7 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, as soon as 
practicable, be required to engage
daily, during the school 
day, in courses of physical education for such
periods as are

compatible with the optimum growth and developmental

development 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 
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 school board may excuse pupils in 
grades 9 through 12 if those pupils must utilize the time set 
aside for physical education to receive special education 
support and services. 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. 88-269; 89-155, eff. 7-19-95; 89-175, eff. 
7-19-95; 89-626,
eff. 8-9-96.)

 



    (105 ILCS 5/27-7)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-7)



    Sec. 27-7. Physical education course of study.
Purposes of 
courses in physical education and
training - Courses of 
instruction.
A physical education course of study shall include 
a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum  that 
fosters the development of movement skills, enhances 
health-related fitness, increases students' knowledge, offers 
direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a 
group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for 
a healthy lifestyle. A physical education course of study shall 
provide students with an opportunity for an appropriate amount 
of daily physical activity.  A physical education course of 
study must be part of the regular school curriculum and not 
extra-curricular in nature or organization.
Courses in 
physical education and training shall be for the following

purposes:

    1. to develop organic vigor;

    2. to provide bodily and emotional poise;

    3. to provide neuro-muscular training;

    4. to prevent or correct certain postural defects;

    5. to develop strength and endurance;

    6. to develop desirable moral and social qualities;

    7. to promote hygienic school and home life; and

    8. to secure scientific supervision of the sanitation and 
safety of
school buildings, playgrounds, athletic fields and 
equipment thereof.

    The State Board of Education
shall prepare and make

available guidelines for the various grades and types of 
schools in
order to make effective the purposes set forth in 
this section and the
requirements provided in Section 27-6, and 
shall see that the general
provisions and intent of Sections 
27-5 to 27-9, inclusive, are
enforced.

(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)

 

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