District Concussion Protocol 2026-2027

The following information can be found on page 29-30 of the 2026-2027 Parent Student Handbook

Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries

The District has protocols in place that implement the Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act. These protocols are in place to manage concussions and head injuries suffered by students. Some quick facts regarding the District's policy and protocols are listed below.

1) The District has a Concussion Oversight Team that, based on national standards, has developed:

1. A return-to-play protocol governing a student's return to intramural athletics practice or competition following a force ofimpact believed to have caused a concussion.

2. A return-to-learn protocol governing a student's return to the classroom following a force ofimpact believed to have caused a concussion.

2) Each student and the student's parent/guardian shall be required to sign a concussion information receipt form each school year before participating in an intramural athletic activity. Student-athletes and their parents/guardians will be provided with educational materials from the Illinois High School Association regarding the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including the risks inherent in continuing to play after a concussion or head injury. Student-athletes and their parents/guardians will be informed about the District's policy in the Agreement to Participate or other written instruments that a student-athlete and their parent/guardian must sign before the student can participate in a practice or intramural competition.

3) In the event a student-athlete exhibits concussion symptoms: 

1. A student-athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion in a practice or game shall be removed from participation or competition at that time.
2. A student-athlete who has been removed from an intramural contest unless cleared to do so by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois.
3. If not cleared to return to that contest, a student-athlete may not return to play or practice until the student-athlete has provided his or her school with written clearance from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois.

4) A student shall be removed from an intramural athletic practice or competition immediately if any ofthe following individuals believe that the student sustained a concussion during the practice and/or competition: a coach, a physician, a game official, an athletic trainer, the student's parent/guardian, the student, or any other person deemed appropriate under the return-to-play protocol.

5) A student who was removed from intramural athletic practice or competition shall be allowed to return only after all statutory prerequisites are completed, including, without limitation, the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols developed by the Concussion Oversight Team. An athletic team coach or assistant coach may not authorize a student's return to play or return to learn.

6) All student-athletes are required to viewthe Illinois High School Association's video about concussions.