Requires school districts to let nonpublic school students participate in district high school interscholastic athletics.

S 973 requires New Jersey public school districts to allow students attending nonpublic schools to try out for and join high school interscholastic sports teams in their district of residence, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements as public school students. These requirements include proof of residency, passing physical exams, meeting academic standards, and paying fees (capped at actual per-pupil costs, with exemptions for financial hardship using free/reduced lunch criteria). The bill does not require districts to change team schedules, provide transportation, or alter participation rules for these students. It explicitly states that students who withdraw from public school due to academic or behavioral issues remain ineligible to compete under the same rules. This policy directly affects nonpublic school students seeking athletic participation in their residential district's public schools.