{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-271.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-271.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-271.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-271.5.html"}],"law_id":58468,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58468,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.5","catch_line":"Guidelines and policies and procedures on concussions in student-athletes","history":"2010, c. 483; 2014, cc. 746, 760; 2016, c. 151; 2019, c. 142.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board of Education shall develop, biennially update, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and student-athletes’ parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play, and the effects of concussions on student-athletes’ academic performance.B\n\nEach local school division shall develop and biennially update policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes. Such policies shall:1\n\nRequire that in order to participate in any extracurricular physical activity, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall review, on an annual basis, information on concussions provided by the local school division. After having reviewed materials describing the short- and long-term health effects of concussions, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt of such information, in a manner approved by the Board of Education;2\n\nRequire a student-athlete suspected by that student-athlete’s coach, athletic trainer, or team physician of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in a practice or game to be removed from the activity at that time. A student-athlete who has been removed from play, evaluated, and suspected to have a concussion or brain injury shall not return to play that same day nor until (i) evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider as determined by the Board of Education and (ii) in receipt of written clearance to return to play from such licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t\tThe licensed health care provider evaluating student-athletes suspected of having a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer; and3\n\nInclude a “Return to Learn Protocol” with the following requirements:\n\t\t\t\ta. School personnel shall be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury, including (i) difficulty with concentration, organization, and long-term and short-term memory; (ii) sensitivity to bright lights and sounds; and (iii) short-term problems with speech and language, reasoning, planning, and problem solving; and\n\t\t\t\tb. School personnel shall accommodate the gradual return to full participation in academic activities of a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s licensed health care provider as to the appropriate amount of time that such student needs to be away from the classroom.C\n\nEach non-interscholastic youth sports program utilizing public school property shall either (i) establish policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes, consistent with either the local school division’s policies and procedures developed in compliance with this section or the Board’s Guidelines for Policies on Concussions in Student-Athletes, or (ii) follow the local school division’s policies and procedures as set forth in subsection B. In addition, local school divisions may provide the guidelines to organizations sponsoring athletic activity for student-athletes on school property. Local school divisions shall not be required to enforce compliance with such policies.D\n\nAs used in this section, “non-interscholastic youth sports program” means a program organized for recreational athletic competition or recreational athletic instruction for youth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":214287,"text":"The Board of Education shall develop, biennially update, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and student-athletes’ parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play, and the effects of concussions on student-athletes’ academic performance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":214288,"text":"Each local school division shall develop and biennially update policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes. Such policies shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":214289,"text":"Require that in order to participate in any extracurricular physical activity, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall review, on an annual basis, information on concussions provided by the local school division. After having reviewed materials describing the short- and long-term health effects of concussions, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt of such information, in a manner approved by the Board of Education;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":214290,"text":"Require a student-athlete suspected by that student-athlete’s coach, athletic trainer, or team physician of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in a practice or game to be removed from the activity at that time. A student-athlete who has been removed from play, evaluated, and suspected to have a concussion or brain injury shall not return to play that same day nor until (i) evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider as determined by the Board of Education and (ii) in receipt of written clearance to return to play from such licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t\tThe licensed health care provider evaluating student-athletes suspected of having a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":214291,"text":"Include a “Return to Learn Protocol” with the following requirements:\n\t\t\t\ta. School personnel shall be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury, including (i) difficulty with concentration, organization, and long-term and short-term memory; (ii) sensitivity to bright lights and sounds; and (iii) short-term problems with speech and language, reasoning, planning, and problem solving; and\n\t\t\t\tb. School personnel shall accommodate the gradual return to full participation in academic activities of a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s licensed health care provider as to the appropriate amount of time that such student needs to be away from the classroom.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":214292,"text":"Each non-interscholastic youth sports program utilizing public school property shall either (i) establish policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes, consistent with either the local school division’s policies and procedures developed in compliance with this section or the Board’s Guidelines for Policies on Concussions in Student-Athletes, or (ii) follow the local school division’s policies and procedures as set forth in subsection B. In addition, local school divisions may provide the guidelines to organizations sponsoring athletic activity for student-athletes on school property. Local school divisions shall not be required to enforce compliance with such policies.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":214293,"text":"As used in this section, “non-interscholastic youth sports program” means a program organized for recreational athletic competition or recreational athletic instruction for youth.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13512,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health Provisions","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12850,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":182221,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13512,"identifier":"2","token":"22.1\/14\/2","url":"\/22.1\/14\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12850,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pupils","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":182133,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12850,"identifier":"14","token":"22.1\/14","url":"\/22.1\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83399,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-270","catch_line":"Preschool physical examinations","url":"\/22.1-270\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-270","metadata":false},{"id":57306,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-271\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271","metadata":false},{"id":68537,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-271.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.1","metadata":false},{"id":54801,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.10","catch_line":"Guidelines and policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection","url":"\/22.1-271.10\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.10","metadata":false},{"id":68882,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.2","catch_line":"Immunization requirements","url":"\/22.1-271.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.2","metadata":false},{"id":80851,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.3","catch_line":"Guidelines for school attendance for children infected with human immunodeficiency virus; school personnel training required; notification of school personnel in certain cases","url":"\/22.1-271.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.3","metadata":false},{"id":58904,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.4","catch_line":"Health requirements for home-instructed, exempted, and excused children","url":"\/22.1-271.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.4","metadata":false},{"id":58468,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.5","catch_line":"Guidelines and policies and procedures on concussions in student-athletes","url":"\/22.1-271.5\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.5","metadata":false},{"id":62863,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.6","catch_line":"School division policies and procedures on concussions in students","url":"\/22.1-271.6\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.6","metadata":false},{"id":74380,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.7","catch_line":"Public middle and high school student-athletes; pre-participation physical examination","url":"\/22.1-271.7\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.7","metadata":false},{"id":64618,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.8","catch_line":"Sudden cardiac arrest prevention in student-athletes","url":"\/22.1-271.8\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.8","metadata":false},{"id":61392,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.9","catch_line":"Cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans required","url":"\/22.1-271.9\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.9","metadata":false},{"id":60318,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-272","catch_line":"Contagious and infectious diseases","url":"\/22.1-272\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-272","metadata":false},{"id":63093,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-272.1","catch_line":"Responsibility to contact parent of student at imminent risk of suicide; notice to be given to social services if parental abuse or neglect; Board of Education to develop guidelines for parental contact","url":"\/22.1-272.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-272.1","metadata":false},{"id":64351,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-272.1:1","catch_line":"School-connected student overdose policies; parental notification; guidelines","url":"\/22.1-272.1_1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-272.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":84018,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-272.2","catch_line":"Department; model memorandum of understanding; partnerships with community mental health services providers or a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider","url":"\/22.1-272.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-272.2","metadata":false},{"id":73957,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-272.3","catch_line":"Student access to telehealth services; school division policies","url":"\/22.1-272.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-272.3","metadata":false},{"id":68681,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-273","catch_line":"Vision and hearing of student to be tested; exceptions","url":"\/22.1-273\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-273","metadata":false},{"id":82468,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-273.1","catch_line":"Annual screening for scoliosis","url":"\/22.1-273.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-273.1","metadata":false},{"id":80414,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-273.2","catch_line":"Parent educational information regarding eating disorders","url":"\/22.1-273.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-273.2","metadata":false},{"id":66325,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-273.3","catch_line":"Parent educational information regarding tobacco and nicotine vapor products","url":"\/22.1-273.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-273.3","metadata":false},{"id":54479,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-273.4","catch_line":"Department of Education; guidance and resources; applied behavior analysis services","url":"\/22.1-273.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-273.4","metadata":false},{"id":82301,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274","catch_line":"School health services","url":"\/22.1-274\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274","metadata":false},{"id":87246,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-274.01\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.01","metadata":false},{"id":62165,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.01:1","catch_line":"Students who are diagnosed with diabetes; self-care; insertion and reinsertion of insulin pump","url":"\/22.1-274.01_1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.01_1","metadata":false},{"id":62800,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.02","catch_line":"Certain memorandum of agreement required","url":"\/22.1-274.02\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.02","metadata":false},{"id":61298,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.1","catch_line":"Criteria to identify toxic art materials; labeling; use in certain grades prohibited","url":"\/22.1-274.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.1","metadata":false},{"id":78246,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.2","catch_line":"Possession and administration of inhaled asthma medications, epinephrine, glucagon, and seizure rescue medications by certain students or school board employees","url":"\/22.1-274.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.2","metadata":false},{"id":55245,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.2:1","catch_line":"Grade nine and grade 10 health education Standards of Learning; severe allergic reaction awareness training","url":"\/22.1-274.2_1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":80659,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.3","catch_line":"Policies regarding medication recommendations by school personnel","url":"\/22.1-274.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.3","metadata":false},{"id":56415,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.4","catch_line":"Public elementary and secondary schools; automated external defibrillators required","url":"\/22.1-274.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.4","metadata":false},{"id":81947,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.4:1","catch_line":"Opioid antagonist procurement, placement, maintenance, and administration; staff and faculty training; policies and requirements","url":"\/22.1-274.4_1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":74919,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.5","catch_line":"Topical sunscreen","url":"\/22.1-274.5\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.5","metadata":false},{"id":78903,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.6","catch_line":"Seizure management and action plan; training","url":"\/22.1-274.6\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.6","metadata":false},{"id":73551,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.7","catch_line":"Students with disabilities; individualized education programs; individualized accommodations and supports during emergency situations and evacuations","url":"\/22.1-274.7\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.7","metadata":false},{"id":70375,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-274.8","catch_line":"School boards; bleeding control programs; bleeding control kits","url":"\/22.1-274.8\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-274.8","metadata":false},{"id":79734,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-275","catch_line":"Protective eye devices","url":"\/22.1-275\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-275","metadata":false},{"id":81726,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-275.1","catch_line":"School health advisory board","url":"\/22.1-275.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-275.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58904,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.4","catch_line":"Health requirements for home-instructed, exempted, and excused children","url":"\/22.1-271.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62863,"structure_id":13512,"section_number":"22.1-271.6","catch_line":"School division policies and procedures on concussions in students","url":"\/22.1-271.6\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-271.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2010. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 483<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2014, chapters 746<\/a> and 760<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 151<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 142<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":182251,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58468,"identifier":"22.1-271.5","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.5","url":"\/22.1-271.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-271.5\/","token":"22.1\/14\/2\/22.1-271.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Guidelines and policies and procedures on concussions in student-athletes","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-271.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education shall develop, biennially update, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and student-athletes’ parents<\/span><\/span> or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play, and the effects of concussions on student-athletes’ academic performance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each local school division shall develop and biennially update policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes. Such policies shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Require that in order<\/span> to participate in any extracurricular physical activity, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent<\/span> or guardian shall review, on an annual basis, information on concussions provided by the local school division. After having reviewed materials<\/span> describing the short- and long-term health effects of concussions, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent<\/span> or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt of such information, in a manner approved by the Board<\/span> of Education; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Require a student-athlete suspected by that student-athlete’s coach, athletic trainer, or team physician of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in a practice or game to be removed from the activity at that time. A student-athlete who has been removed from play, evaluated, and suspected to have a concussion or brain injury shall not return to play that same day nor until (i) evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider as determined by the Board<\/span> of Education and (ii) in receipt of written clearance to return to play from such licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t\tThe licensed health care provider evaluating student-athletes suspected of having a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Include a “Return to Learn Protocol” with the following requirements:\n\t\t\t\ta. School personnel shall be alert to cognitive and academic issues<\/span> that may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury, including (i) difficulty with concentration, organization, and long-term and short-term memory; (ii) sensitivity to bright lights and sounds; and (iii) short-term problems with speech and language, reasoning, planning, and problem solving; and\n\t\t\t\tb. School personnel shall accommodate the gradual return to full participation in academic activities of a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s licensed health care provider as to the appropriate amount of time that such student needs to be away from the classroom. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Each non-interscholastic youth sports program<\/span> utilizing public school property shall either (i) establish policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes, consistent with either the local school division’s policies and procedures developed in compliance with this section or the Board<\/span>’s Guidelines for Policies on Concussions in Student-Athletes, or (ii) follow the local school division’s policies and procedures as set forth in subsection B. In addition, local school divisions may provide the guidelines to organizations sponsoring athletic activity for student-athletes on school property. Local school divisions shall not be required to enforce compliance with such policies. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> As used in this section, “non-interscholastic youth sports program<\/span>” means a program organized for recreational athletic competition or recreational athletic instruction for youth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGUIDELINES AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON CONCUSSIONS IN STUDENT-ATHLETES (\u00a7\n22.1-271.5)\n\nA. The Board of Education shall develop, biennially update, and distribute to\neach local school division guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches,\nstudent-athletes, and student-athletes’ parents or guardians of the nature\nand risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, risks of\nnot reporting the injury and continuing to play, and the effects of concussions\non student-athletes’ academic performance.\n\nB. Each local school division shall develop and biennially update policies and\nprocedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in\nstudent-athletes. Such policies shall:\n\n 1. Require that in order to participate in any extracurricular physical\n activity, each student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or\n guardian shall review, on an annual basis, information on concussions provided\n by the local school division. After having reviewed materials describing the\n short- and long-term health effects of concussions, each student-athlete and\n the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall sign a statement\n acknowledging receipt of such information, in a manner approved by the Board\n of Education;\n\n 2. Require a student-athlete suspected by that student-athlete’s coach,\n athletic trainer, or team physician of sustaining a concussion or brain injury\n in a practice or game to be removed from the activity at that time. A\n student-athlete who has been removed from play, evaluated, and suspected to\n have a concussion or brain injury shall not return to play that same day nor\n until (i) evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider as\n determined by the Board of Education and (ii) in receipt of written clearance\n to return to play from such licensed health care provider.\n \t\t\t\tThe licensed health care provider evaluating student-athletes suspected of\n having a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer; and\n\n 3. Include a “Return to Learn Protocol” with the following\n requirements:\n \t\t\t\ta. School personnel shall be alert to cognitive and academic issues that\n may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussion or other head\n injury, including (i) difficulty with concentration, organization, and\n long-term and short-term memory; (ii) sensitivity to bright lights and sounds;\n and (iii) short-term problems with speech and language, reasoning, planning,\n and problem solving; and\n \t\t\t\tb. School personnel shall accommodate the gradual return to full\n participation in academic activities of a student who has suffered a\n concussion or other head injury as appropriate, based on the recommendation of\n the student’s licensed health care provider as to the appropriate amount\n of time that such student needs to be away from the classroom.\n\nC. Each non-interscholastic youth sports program utilizing public school\nproperty shall either (i) establish policies and procedures regarding the\nidentification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes,\nconsistent with either the local school division’s policies and procedures\ndeveloped in compliance with this section or the Board’s Guidelines for\nPolicies on Concussions in Student-Athletes, or (ii) follow the local school\ndivision’s policies and procedures as set forth in subsection B. In\naddition, local school divisions may provide the guidelines to organizations\nsponsoring athletic activity for student-athletes on school property. Local\nschool divisions shall not be required to enforce compliance with such policies.\n\nD. As used in this section, “non-interscholastic youth sports\nprogram” means a program organized for recreational athletic competition\nor recreational athletic instruction for youth.\n\nHISTORY: 2010, c. 483; 2014, cc. 746, 760; 2016, c. 151; 2019, c. 142.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}