Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain students not enrolled in public schools to participate in interscholastic athletics.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain students participation in Statewide interscholastic sports programs and supplementing chapter 11 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. A board of education shall permit a student in grades six through 12 who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-25 and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in the students district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Any controversy concerning a students compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who receives such instruction who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in the students resident district shall:
(1) provide proof of residence in the district;
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district, such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad; and
(3) demonstrate to the board of education that the student is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and is academically qualified to participate.
b. A student who withdraws from a public school to receive an equivalent instructional program elsewhere than at school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the public school due to the failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
c. The Department of Education shall develop guidelines for school districts in making a determination in regard to the demonstration required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section for only the purposes of eligibility to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad.
2. a. A board of education shall permit a student in grades six through 12 who attends a charter school and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the students district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the charter school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a students compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a charter school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in the students resident district shall:
(1) provide proof of residence in the district; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district, such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A charter school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a charter school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to the failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
3. a. A board of education shall permit a student in grades six through 12 who attends a county vocational school on a full-time or shared-time basis and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the students district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the county vocational school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a students compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a county vocational school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in the students resident district shall:
(1) provide proof of residence in the district; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A county vocational school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a county vocational school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to the failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
4. a. A board of education shall permit a student in grades six through 12 who attends a nonpublic school on a full-time or shared-time basis and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the students district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the nonpublic school d