New Jersey § 18a:11-3

§ 18a:11-3.

The Legislature finds and declares that: a. The United States Government Accountability Office issued a report in June 2010

that underscored that access to, and participation in, extracurricular athletic opportunities

provide important health and social benefits to all students, particularly those with

disabilities, including socialization, improved teamwork and leadership skills, and

fitness. Unfortunately, the report found that students with disabilities are not being afforded

an equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular athletics in public elementary

and secondary schools. b. The United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, issued guidance

on January 25, 2013, which clarifies existing legal obligations of school districts

to provide equal access to extracurricular athletic activities to students with disabilities

and urges school districts to work with community organizations to increase athletic

opportunities for students with disabilities in club, intramural, and interscholastic

athletic programs. c. Students with intellectual, developmental, physical, and other forms of disabilities

should consistently have opportunities to participate in athletics equal to those

of other students, which is in keeping with school district responsibilities under

section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. s.794 , regarding the provision of extracurricular activities.