Senate Bill No. 222 allows local and regional boards of education to adopt policies that exempt high school students who participate in interscholastic athletics from the physical education and wellness graduation requirement. The bill modifies subsection (f) of section 10-221a of the general statutes, repealing the existing language and inserting new provisions. Specifically, it states that students who participate in interscholastic athletics may be exempt from the physical education requirement, provided that the exemption is permitted by the local or regional board of education. However, students who receive this exemption must still complete a minimum of 25 credits to graduate, ensuring that they fulfill the overall credit requirement by taking another elective in place of physical education.

The bill does not have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as it does not change the overall graduation credit requirement. The existing requirement for students to complete at least 25 credits remains intact, which includes various subject areas such as humanities, science, health, world languages, and financial literacy. The effective date for this bill is set for July 1, 2026.