4. A student who participates in an interscholastic sports program, intramural sports program, or cheerleading program and who sustains or is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury while engaged in a competition or practice shall be immediately removed from the competition or practice. A student-athlete or cheerleader who is removed from competition or practice shall not participate in further sports or cheerleading activity until:

a. the student-athlete or cheerleader is evaluated by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, and receives written clearance from a physician trained in the evaluation and management of concussions to return to competition or practice; and

b. the student-athlete or cheerleader returns to regular school activities and is no longer experiencing symptoms of the injury when conducting those activities.

The return of a student-athlete or cheerleader to competition or practice shall be in accordance with the graduated, six-step “Return to Play Progression” recommendations and any subsequent changes or other updates to those recommendations as developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

L.2010, c.94, s.4; amended 2011, c.168, s.3; 2017, c.105, s.2; 2021, c.222, s.3.