Allows public schools to let certain students not enrolled in school participate in high school interscholastic athletics; allows public high schools in same district to enter into cooperative sports programs under certain conditions.

This bill (A2737) allows New Jersey public school districts to permit certain students not enrolled in public school to participate in high school interscholastic athletics within their district of residence. It enables nonpublic school students, homeschooled students, and charter school students to join district sports teams if their current school doesn't sponsor the sport and the district can't field a team due to declining interest or budget constraints. The bill requires districts to verify students meet standard eligibility requirements and permits districts to charge fees based on actual costs, except for students with financial hardship as defined by state lunch program standards. It also allows public high schools within the same district to form cooperative sports programs when one school can't field a team.