KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Connecticut

SB00222 • 2026

AN ACT PERMITTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER AN EXEMPTION FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT REQUIREMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

AN ACT PERMITTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER AN EXEMPTION FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT REQUIREMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Education Committee
Last action
2026-04-16
Official status
House Calendar Number 461
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The law does not define what qualifies as interscholastic athletics or set minimum participation times; these details depend on individual school district policies.

SB00222: Physical Education Credit Exemption for Athletes

This law allows school districts to let high school students skip the physical education and wellness class requirement if they play on official interscholastic sports teams.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows local or regional boards of education to create a policy that exempts athletes from the physical education and wellness credit rule.
  • Permits participation in interscholastic athletics to count toward graduation requirements instead of taking a PE class, if the school district adopts this policy.
  • Requires students who get this exemption to still earn 25 total credits before they can graduate.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school students enrolled in interscholastic athletics programs.
  • Local or regional boards of education that may choose to adopt a policy allowing this exemption.
  • School districts where these policies are put into place.

Terms To Know

Interscholastic Athletics
Sports teams and competitions organized between different schools, as defined by the school district's policy.
Exemption
An official permission to be free from a rule that usually applies, such as skipping a required class like physical education or wellness.

Limits and Unknowns

  • School districts are not forced to offer this exemption; they must choose to adopt the policy first.
  • The law does not specify which sports count or how long a student must play on a team to qualify, leaving those details for school boards to decide in their policies.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-16 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  2. 2026-04-16 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 461

  3. 2026-04-15 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Passed

  4. 2026-04-09 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  5. 2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  6. 2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 325

  7. 2026-04-09 LCO

    File Number 559

  8. 2026-04-02 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/08/26 5:00 PM

  9. 2026-03-23 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  10. 2026-03-18 ED

    Joint Favorable Substitute

  11. 2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/23

  12. 2026-02-18 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

To permit students to use participation in interscholastic athletics to count as credit toward satisfying the physical education requirement of the high school graduation requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Senate
sSB222 / File No. 559 1

General Assembly File No. 559
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 222

Senate, April 9, 2026

The Committee on Education reported through SEN.
MCCRORY, D. of the 2nd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee
on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT PERMITTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER AN
EXEMPTION FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT
REQUIREMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE
IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (f) of section 10-221a of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
2026): 3
(f) (1) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician, 4
physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse stating that, in 5
the opinion of the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice 6
registered nurse, participation in physical education is medically 7
contraindicated because of the physical condition of such student, shall 8
be excused from the physical education requirement, provided the 9
credit for physical education may be fulfilled by an elective. 10
(2) Any student who participates in interscholastic athletics may be 11
exempt from the physical education and wellness requirement under 12
sSB222 File No. 559

sSB222 / File No. 559 2

subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section, provided such 13
exemption is permitted pursuant to a policy adopted by the local or 14
regional board of education of the school district in which such student 15
is enrolled. Any student who receives such exemption shall still be 16
responsible for completing a minimum of twenty-five credits in order to 17
graduate from high school or be granted a diploma under this section. 18
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-221a(f)

ED Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB222 File No. 559

sSB222 / File No. 559 3

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which allows local and regional boards of education (BOEs)
to waive the physical education and wellness graduation requirement
for students who participate in interscholastic athletics, has no fiscal
impact. Because the graduation credit requirement remains unchanged,
no changes in BOE staffing levels are anticipated.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

sSB222 File No. 559

sSB222 / File No. 559 4

OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 222

AN ACT PERMITTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER AN
EXEMPTION FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT
REQUIREMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE
IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

SUMMARY
This bill allows local or regional boards of education (school boards)
to adopt a policy to exempt students who participate in interscholastic
athletics from the physical education and wellness graduation
requirement (currently, one credit).
By law, students must complete at least 25 credits to graduate from
high school, including at least (1) nine credits in humanities, including
civics and the arts; (2) nine credits in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics; (3) one credit in health and safety education ; (4) one
credit in world languages ; and (5) a half credit in personal financial
management and financial literacy (CGS § 10-221a). The bill retains the
requirement that students complete 25 credits, so students who receive
the physical education exemption must complete another credit in its
place.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Education Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 34 Nay 12 (03/18/2026)