PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 435
PRINTER'S NO. 1430
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
454
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, BARTOLOTTA, LAUGHLIN, PENNYCUICK, DILLON,
REGAN AND ARGALL, MARCH 14, 2023
SENATOR ARGALL, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, MARCH 19, 2024
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
further providing for physical education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1512.1 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1512.1. Physical Education.--(a) The board of
school directors in every school district shall establish a
curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania academic standards on
health, safety and physical education that pursuant to 22 Pa.
Code § 4.27 (relating to physical education and athletics),
requires pupils enrolled in the district to participate in
physical education.
(b) The board of school directors shall permit students to
satisfy the physical education curriculum requirement under
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subsection (a) by participation in an interscholastic sport. A
student may utilize participation in an interscholastic sport to
satisfy the physical education requirement twice per school
year, the utilization of which must be during the
interscholastic sport's season.
(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Interscholastic sport" shall mean athletic contests or
competitions conducted between or among schools.
SECTION 1512.1. PHYSICAL EDUCATION.--(A) THE BOARD OF
SCHOOL DIRECTORS IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ESTABLISH A
CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS ON
HEALTH, SAFETY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION THAT PURSUANT TO 22 PA.
CODE § 4.27 (RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS),
REQUIRES PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE
IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
(B) THE FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY:
(1) BEGINNING IN THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR AND IN EACH
SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER, THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS MAY PERMIT
STUDENTS TO SATISFY PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS BY
PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
(2) THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS PERMITTING SATISFACTION
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) SHALL DEVELOP A POLICY OR REVISE AN EXISTING
POLICY TO PERMIT STUDENTS TO SATISFY PHYSICAL EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS BY PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
(C) UTILIZATION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS TO SATISFY
PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS MAY SATISFY COMPONENTS OF THE
ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
UNDER 22 PA. CODE CH. 4 APPEN. D (RELATING TO ACADEMIC STANDARDS
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FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES AND HEALTH, SAFETY AND PHYSICAL
EDUCATION AND FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES) BUT MAY NOT SERVE AS
A COMPLETE WAIVER OR EXEMPTION FROM THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND
PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACADEMIC STANDARDS .
(D) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS
THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS." ATHLETIC CONTESTS OR
COMPETITIONS CONDUCTED BETWEEN OR AMONG SCHOOL ENTITIES SITUATED
IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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