Bill Text: NJ S2901 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-04 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S2901 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2901-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning physical education instruction in public high schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.18A:35-7, N.J.S.18A:35-8, or any other law to the contrary, a public high school student in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade who participates in a school-sponsored sport and is scheduled to attend a physical education course during the athletic season of that sport may elect to substitute the physical education course with a study hall during that athletic season. The student's participation in the sport shall count towards the student's physical education requirement for graduation, and the student shall receive the number of high school graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course.
b. (1) The parent or guardian of a student seeking to substitute a physical education course with a study hall pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall provide the school district with written approval for the substitution.
(2) The coach of the school-sponsored sport shall certify to the school district the student's participation in the sport.
c. The school district shall determine for purposes of this act which school athletic activities constitute a school-sponsored sport.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the 2024-2025 school year.
STATEMENT
This bill permits a public high school student in the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade who participates in a school-sponsored sport and who is scheduled to attend a physical education course during the athletic season of that sport to substitute the physical education course with a study hall. The student who chooses to substitute the physical education course with a study hall is to receive for participation in the sport the number of high school graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course.
The bill requires the parent or guardian of the student to provide the school district with written approval for the substitution. The coach of the school-sponsored sport is given the responsibility to certify to the school district the student's participation in the sport.
The bill provides that the school district is to determine which school athletic activities constitute a school-sponsored sport. Only student-athletes participating in school-sponsored sports will be permitted to elect to substitute study hall for physical education during that athletic season.
This bill does not exempt students from the statutory requirement that they attend at least two and one-half hours per school week of health and safety education courses, when these courses are scheduled. This bill also does not affect the physical education requirement for students in grades one through eight or for high school students who do not participate in school-sponsored sports.
