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| Public Act 098-0116 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section | ||||
27-6 as follows:
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(105 ILCS 5/27-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
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Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special | ||||
activities.
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(a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State | ||||
universities engaged in
preparing teachers shall be required to | ||||
engage
daily during the school day, except on block scheduled | ||||
days for those public schools engaged in block scheduling, in | ||||
courses of physical education for such
periods as are
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compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of
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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.
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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.
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(b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
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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
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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
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program. In addition, a pupil
in any of grades 3 through 12 who | ||
is eligible for special education may be excused if the pupil's | ||
parent or guardian agrees that the pupil
must utilize the time | ||
set aside for physical education to receive special education | ||
support and services or, if there is no agreement, the | ||
individualized education program team for the pupil determines | ||
that the pupil must utilize the time set aside for physical | ||
education to receive special education support and services, | ||
which agreement or determination must be made a part of the | ||
individualized education program. However, a pupil requiring | ||
adapted physical education must receive that service in | ||
accordance with the individualized education program developed | ||
for the pupil. If requested, a school board is authorized to | ||
excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if | ||
the pupil has an individualized educational program under | ||
Article 14 of this Code, is participating in an adaptive | ||
athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents | ||
such participation as determined by the school board. 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.
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(c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the | ||
provisions of
Section 27-22.05.
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(Source: P.A. 94-189, eff. 7-12-05; 94-198, eff. 1-1-06; | ||
94-200, eff. 7-12-05; 94-1098, eff. 2-2-07; 95-331, eff. | ||
8-21-07.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2013.
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