Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to allow nonpublic school students to participate in interscholastic sports programs on resident district’s sports teams.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the participation of nonpublic school students 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 who attends a nonpublic 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 student’s district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the nonpublic school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a student’s 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 nonpublic school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
(1) provide proof that he resides 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 nonpublic 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 nonpublic school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to his 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.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, interscholastic athletics in the student’s district of residence if the nonpublic school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. In order to participate, the student must: provide proof that he resides in the district; and 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 nonpublic school student must comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
Under the bill, any controversy concerning a student’s compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association will be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.