94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1540

 

Introduced 2/10/2005, by Rep. Tom Cross - Elizabeth Coulson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-6   from Ch. 122, par. 27-6
105 ILCS 5/27-7   from Ch. 122, par. 27-7

    Amends the School Code. Provides that pupils must daily engage in courses of physical education for such periods as are commensurate with the students' other courses of study. Allows a school board to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils must utilize the time set aside for physical education to receive special education support and services. Changes requirements with regard to a physical education course of study. Requires a physical education course of study to provide students with an opportunity for an appropriate amount of daily physical activity. Requires a physical education course of study to be part of the regular school curriculum and not extra-curricular in nature or organization. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.


LRB094 05657 AMC 35706 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1540 LRB094 05657 AMC 35706 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 Sections
5 27-6 and 27-7 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/27-6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-6)
7     Sec. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; 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 commensurate with the students' other courses of study and
14 compatible with the optimum growth and developmental
15 development needs of individuals at the various age levels
16 except when appropriate excuses are submitted to the school by
17 a pupil's parent or guardian or by a person licensed under the
18 Medical Practice Act of 1987 and except as provided in
19 subsection (b) of this Section.
20     Special activities in physical education shall be provided
21 for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as determined
22 by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987,
23 prevents their participation in the courses provided for normal
24 children.
25     (b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled
26 in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education courses
27 if those pupils request to be excused for any of the following
28 reasons: (1) for ongoing participation in an interscholastic
29 athletic program; (2) to enroll in academic classes which are
30 required for admission to an institution of higher learning,
31 provided that failure to take such classes will result in the
32 pupil being denied admission to the institution of his or her

 

 

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1 choice; or (3) to enroll in academic classes which are required
2 for graduation from high school, provided that failure to take
3 such classes will result in the pupil being unable to graduate.
4 A school board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12
5 enrolled in a marching band program for credit from engaging in
6 physical education courses if those pupils request to be
7 excused for ongoing participation in such marching band
8 program. In addition, a school board may excuse pupils in
9 grades 9 through 12 if those pupils must utilize the time set
10 aside for physical education to receive special education
11 support and services. A school board may also excuse pupils in
12 grades 9 through 12 enrolled in a Reserve Officer's Training
13 Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by the school district from
14 engaging in physical education courses. School boards which
15 choose to exercise this authority shall establish a policy to
16 excuse pupils on an individual basis.
17     (c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
18 provisions of Section 27-22.05.
19 (Source: P.A. 88-269; 89-155, eff. 7-19-95; 89-175, eff.
20 7-19-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
 
21     (105 ILCS 5/27-7)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-7)
22     Sec. 27-7. Physical education course of study. Purposes of
23 courses in physical education and training - Courses of
24 instruction. A physical education course of study shall include
25 a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that
26 fosters the development of movement skills, enhances
27 health-related fitness, increases students' knowledge, offers
28 direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a
29 group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for
30 a healthy lifestyle. A physical education course of study shall
31 provide students with an opportunity for an appropriate amount
32 of daily physical activity. A physical education course of
33 study must be part of the regular school curriculum and not
34 extra-curricular in nature or organization. Courses in
35 physical education and training shall be for the following

 

 

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1 purposes:
2     1. to develop organic vigor;
3     2. to provide bodily and emotional poise;
4     3. to provide neuro-muscular training;
5     4. to prevent or correct certain postural defects;
6     5. to develop strength and endurance;
7     6. to develop desirable moral and social qualities;
8     7. to promote hygienic school and home life; and
9     8. to secure scientific supervision of the sanitation and
10 safety of school buildings, playgrounds, athletic fields and
11 equipment thereof.
12     The State Board of Education shall prepare and make
13 available guidelines for the various grades and types of
14 schools in order to make effective the purposes set forth in
15 this section and the requirements provided in Section 27-6, and
16 shall see that the general provisions and intent of Sections
17 27-5 to 27-9, inclusive, are enforced.
18 (Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)
 
19     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20 becoming law.