2280 - PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Board recognizes the value of physical education to the maintenance of the health and vitality of all students, as well as to the development of life-long habits that will enhance personal fitness and wellness and has available to students one-on-one counseling concerning the benefits of physical education.

Therefore, it shall be the policy of the Board that opportunities for physical education that are consistent with the Florida Early Learning Services Birth to Five standards for physical development shall be available to all students in Pre-Kindergarten. Students in kindergarten through grade five (5) shall be provided 150 minutes of physical education, as defined in State law, each week. Students in grade six who are enrolled in a school with students in Kindergarten through grade five shall also be provided 150 minutes of physical education as defined in State law each week.

In addition to the requirements for physical education, the Board will provide at least 100 minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week for students in kindergarten through grade 5 so that there are at least twenty (20) consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day.

For students in a middle school, which has enrolled students in grades six through eight, each student is required to complete one (1) semester per school year of physical education.

Students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) shall be required to earn a minimum of one (1) credit in HOPE.

The physical education curriculum in this District shall be in accord with standards established by the Department of Education, as well as those recommended by the National Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Physical education instruction shall include activities requiring at least a moderate level of physical exertion and duration sufficient to provide a health benefit for the participants. When planning the required activities, the instructor shall consider the different capabilities of the students and adapt the plans accordingly.

Furthermore, the outcomes of the physical education program in this District shall stress physical fitness and encourage the development of a healthy, active lifestyle. Specific grade level outcomes shall be established annually in each school's school improvement plan.

Each student's parents shall be notified by the Student Progression Plan of the options available to waive participation in physical education prior to the placement of physical education on a student's schedule. A student must meet one (1) of the following criteria to be available for waiver from the required physical education class:

1. the student is enrolled or required to enroll in a remedial course;
2. the student's parent indicates in writing to the school that:
    
   1. the parent requests that the student enroll in another course from among those courses offered as options by the School District; or
   2. the student is participating in physical activities outside the school day which are equal to or in excess of the mandated requirement.

Provision shall be made at all levels to excuse individual students from specific activities if direction to do so is received, in writing, from the student's physician.

If one (1) of the above criteria is met and the parent has notified the District, the student will not have physical education placed on their schedule for that ensuing school year.

Additionally, each student's parents will be notified by the Student Progression Plan as follows:

1. A student can fulfill one (1) unit of credit in physical education by participating in interscholastic sports at the junior varsity or varsity level for two (2) full seasons.
2. Completion of two (2) years of marching band shall satisfy the one (1) credit requirement in physical education or the one (1) credit requirement in performing arts.  This credit may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive physical education under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. Completion of one (1) semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class, in a physical activity class that requires participation in marching band activities as an extra-curricular activity, or in a dance class shall satisfy one-half (1/2) credit in physical education or one-half (1/2) credit in performing arts.
3. Completion of two (2) years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one (1) credit requirement in physical education and the one (1) credit requirement in performing arts.

The Superintendent shall annually review the District's wellness policy and physical education policy and include it as an item on a Board meeting agenda for public input and revision.

The Superintendent shall annually appoint individuals to serve on the District's Physical Education Committee. The committee will include educational staff (including physical education teachers), school health professionals, members of the public, and school administrators and will oversee the implementation, evaluation, and periodic update, if necessary, of the physical education policy.

The physical education committee will be responsible for accomplishing the following:

1. review data about the implementation of the District’s physical education policy in each of the District’s schools;
2. review the District’s current physical education policy;
3. conduct a meeting at which public input may be provided with regard to revisions needed to the physical education policy; and
4. recommend revision of the policy, as necessary.

Before the end of each school year the physical education committee shall submit to the Superintendent and Board their report in which they describe the implementation of the physical education policy in each school, and identify any revisions to the policy the committee deems necessary.

The Superintendent shall report annually to the Board on the work of the physical education committee, including their evaluation of the implementation of the physical education policy District-wide, and the areas for improvement, if any, that the committee identified. The Superintendent shall also recommend any revisions deemed necessary to the policy for the Board’s consideration and adoption.

If revisions to the physical education policy are recommended and adopted, the Superintendent shall submit the revised policy to the Department of Education, as required by State law.

Revised 4/22/25
Revised 10/7/25

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