Public Act 098-0116
 
SB2157 EnrolledLRB098 08301 NHT 38404 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 Section 
27-6 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 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

compatible with the optimum growth and developmental 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 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.

    (c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the 
provisions of
Section 27-22.05.

(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.)

 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
2013.