Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2025
Summary
The "Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2025" aims to establish minimum state requirements for concussion prevention and treatment in school sports. States receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 must enact legislation or regulations meeting these minimum standards. These standards include developing concussion safety plans, posting concussion information, and implementing protocols for removing students from activities and returning them to play and academics after a concussion.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased awareness and better management of concussions in student athletes. It mandates specific actions by schools and local educational agencies, potentially improving student safety and well-being. Non-compliant states will face a reduction in federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Potential Benefits
- Improved student safety through standardized concussion protocols.
- Increased awareness and education about concussions for students, parents, and school personnel.
- Better management of concussions, including return-to-play and return-to-academics guidelines.
- Potential for early identification of students needing additional support under IDEA or Section 504.
- Uniformity of safety standards across public schools within participating states.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential financial burden on states to implement and maintain the required programs.
- Possible reduction in federal funding for non-compliant states, impacting other educational programs.
- Increased administrative workload for local educational agencies and schools.
- Potential for inconsistent implementation across different states and local educational agencies.
- The act relies on the existing Elementary and Secondary Education Act for enforcement, which may not be sufficient.
Constitutional Alignment
The act's constitutional alignment stems from Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) through the spending clause. By attaching conditions to federal education funding, the act incentivizes states to adopt specific concussion safety standards. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this is balanced by the federal government's power to set conditions on the receipt of federal funds.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).