S. 2889 — Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2025

This section requires each state receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) that does not already meet specified requirements to enact legislation or issue regulations by the last day of the fifth full fiscal year after enactment (referred to as the "compliance deadline") establishing minimum statewide requirements for concussion safety and management in public schools. Those requirements are as follows: (1) Local educational agency concussion safety and management plan.—Each local educational agency (LEA), in consultation with community members, must develop and implement a standard plan that (A) educates students, parents, and school personnel on concussions (e.g., training coaches, teachers, and nurses on prevention, recognition, response, and academic impacts; providing forms, treatment plans, and fact sheets); (B) supports students recovering from concussions occurring in any context (e.g., multi-disciplinary team guidance for resuming athletics and academics, progressive cognitive reintroduction, and evaluation under IDEA section 614 (20 U.S.C. 1414) or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) if symptoms persist substantially); and (C) promotes best practices (e.g., public dissemination of information and uniform standards). (2) Posting of information on concussions.—Each public elementary and secondary school must post visible, website-accessible information on concussions based on peer-reviewed evidence (e.g., CDC materials), covering risks, student response actions, and signs/symptoms (and optionally definitions, prevention, and academic effects). (3) Response to concussion.—Designated school personnel (with at least one at every school-sponsored activity) who suspect a student concussion (in any context) must immediately remove the student from athletic participation, prohibit return on that day or until cleared per (4), and report injury details and treatment actions to the parent or guardian. (4) Return to athletics.—Schools must obtain a written release from a health care professional before a student with a concussion (in any context) resumes school-sponsored athletic activities, which may include a progressive recovery plan with rest and reintroduction of demands.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including: (1) "concussion" as a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body, disrupting brain function with symptoms such as transient confusion, memory dysfunction, loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 minutes, headache, or irritability, occurring with or without loss of consciousness during organized sports or recreational activities; (2) "health care professional" as a state-licensed individual trained in diagnosing and managing concussions in pediatric populations; (3) "local educational agency" and "State," with meanings given in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); (4) "related services personnel" as individuals providing related services under section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401); and (5) "school-sponsored athletic activity" as physical education classes, authorized school-day activities on school grounds, extracurricular sports teams or clubs, or recess activities.