SB 589 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education.

PRINTER'S NO.   596

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 589
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY DUSH, PENNYCUICK, BARTOLOTTA, BROWN AND LAUGHLIN,
        APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 9, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
 6      further providing for physical education.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1512.1 of the act of March 10, 1949
10   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
11   amended to read:
12      Section 1512.1.    Physical education.--(a)   The board of
13   school directors in every school district shall establish a
14   curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania academic standards on
15   health, safety and physical education that pursuant to 22 Pa.
16   Code § 4.27 (relating to physical education and athletics),
17   requires pupils enrolled in the school district to participate
18   in physical education.
19      (b)   Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year and in each
20   school year thereafter, a board of school directors may permit
 1   students to satisfy physical education requirements by
 2   participating in interscholastic athletics.
 3      (c)   A board of school directors that intends to exercise the
 4   power under subsection (b) must develop a policy or revise an
 5   existing policy to permit students to satisfy physical education
 6   requirements by participating in interscholastic athletics.
 7      (d)   Utilization of interscholastic athletics to satisfy
 8   physical education requirements may satisfy components of the
 9   academic standards for health, safety and physical education
10   under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 Appen. D (relating to Academic Standards
11   for the Arts and Humanities and Health, Safety and Physical
12   Education and Family and Consumer Sciences) but may not serve as
13   a complete waiver or exemption from the health, safety and
14   physical education academic standards.
15      (e)   As used in this section, "interscholastic athletics"
16   means athletic contests or competitions conducted between or
17   among school entities situated in a school district.
18      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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