603.06 – Physical Education
Per the Healthy Kids Act, all students will engage in a set number of minutes of physical activity while at school, unless they are excused by the principal of their attendance center. Those expectations are 30 minutes daily for grades K-5 and 120 minutes weekly for grades 6-12.
Students may be excused from physical education courses. To do so, students must have a written request or statement from their parents along with proper documentation stating the reasons for a student not being able to take physical education through the school.
Students in grades K-5 must have 30 minutes of physical activity per day. They may count their PE time as well as any recess times they have during the course of the day.
Students in grades 6-8 must have 120 minutes of physical activity per week. They may count their PE time as well as any recess time they are given during the week.
Students in grades 9-12 must have 120 minutes of physical activity per week. A student’s PE time may count for this time. If a student is unable to take a PE course due to a conflict of academic scheduling, they must sign a contract with the school stating how they will get 120 minutes of physical activity each week. This contract must be in writing, and it must be agreed upon by the parent, student, and administration of the school. Not all physical activity may be accepted by the school. The contracted physical activity plan will be administered and monitored by the parent/guardian. If a student and their parent/guardian cannot guarantee the 120 minutes of physical activity per week for the entire semester, the student must take PE during the school day to make sure the state requirement of 120 minutes of physical activity is met.
Students in grades 9-12 may also be excused from physical education courses if:
- The student is enrolled in academic courses not otherwise available, or
- The student has filled their schedule with academic courses.
- The student can be exempt only once during a semester when they are participants in extra-curricular activities.
High school students may also be excused from physical education courses if the student is enrolled in a cooperative, work-study, or other educational program authorized by the school which requires the student’s absence from school.
Students who will not participate in physical education must have a written request or statement from their parents. Along with proper documentation stating the reasons for a student not being able to take physical education through the school.
Legal Reference; Iowa Code § 256.11(2007).; 281 I.A.C. 12.5.
Date of Adoption: January 19. 2009
Reviewed & Revised: July 13, 2009; March 21, 2016; June 17, 2019