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

This bill, titled the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2025, aims to establish minimum standards across U.S. states for managing concussions resulting from participation in school sports and activities. Here's a summary of the key components:

Minimum State Requirements

The bill mandates that any state receiving federal education funds must develop and implement specific concussion safety and management plans by a defined compliance deadline:

• Concussion Safety and Management Plan: Each local educational agency must create a plan that includes:
• Education for students, parents, and school staff on recognizing and managing concussions.
• Support for students recovering from concussions, including:
• Guidance on resuming athletic and academic activities.
• Academic accommodations to help ease cognitive demands.
• Assessments to determine eligibility for special education services if symptoms persist.
• Adoption and dissemination of best practices for concussion safety and management.

Information Posting

Public schools are required to:

• Post easily visible information about concussions on school grounds.
• Make this information available on their websites.

This posted information must be based on scientific evidence and cover the risks of concussions, the actions to take if a concussion occurs, and the symptoms to watch for.

Response to Concussions

If a school official suspects a student has a concussion, the following actions must be taken:

• The student must be immediately removed from any school-sponsored athletic activity.
• They cannot return until they receive a medical clearance from a licensed health care professional.

Parents or guardians must be informed about the incident and any treatment received.

Return to Athletics and Academics

Before returning to sports, a student who has had a concussion must secure a written release from a health care professional. This release may include a progressive recovery plan that carefully increases cognitive and physical demands on the student.

For academic purposes, the school’s concussion management team must provide recommendations for suitable academic supports, such as:

• Cognitive rest periods during the school day.
• Modified academic assignments.
• Gradual reintroduction to normal academic workloads.

Noncompliance Penalties

If a state does not meet the compliance deadline, it could face financial penalties:

• A 5% reduction in federal education funds for the first year of noncompliance.
• A 10% reduction in subsequent years if noncompliance continues.

The Secretary of Education must notify the state regarding any intended reduction in funds prior to withholding those funds.

Liability and Definitions

The bill clarifies that it does not affect any existing civil or criminal legal liabilities. It also defines important terms, including:

• Concussion: A type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, leading to various physical and cognitive symptoms.
• Health Care Professional: An individual trained in the diagnosis and management of concussions in children.
• School-Sponsored Athletic Activity: Encompasses physical education classes, athletic events, and any school-associated sports activities.

Relevant Companies

None found.