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participate in 
directed athletics 
to be excused 
from instruction 
in physical 
education. 
Revised Code 
of Washington 
28A.210.365 
(2007) states 
that a goal of 
Washington state 
is to ensure that, 
beginning with 
the 2011-2012 
school year, any 
district waiver 
or exemption 
policy from 
physical 
education 
requirements 
for high school 
students should 
be based on 
meeting both 
health and 
fitness curricula 
concepts as well 
as alternative 
means of 
engaging in 
physical activity 
and but should 
acknowledge 
students’ interest 
in pursuing 
their academic 
interests.
The Essential 
Academic 
Learning 
Requirements 
for Health and 
Fitness (2003) 
set requirements 
for physical 
education for 
grades 5 and 8 
and high school.
Fitness 
assessments 
mandatory in 
2008-2009 
for middle 
and high 
school grades 
and in 2009-
2010 for 
elementary 
grades.
The minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
high school is 
a bachelor’s 
degree, with at 
least 30 semester 
hours in physical 
education.
Washington 
Administrative 
Code 180-51-
061 (2001): 
Beginning 
July 1, 2004, 
students who 
enter the 9th 
grade or begin 
the equivalent 
of a 4-year 
high school 
program will 
be required 
to complete 
two credits 
of health 
and fitness 
courses (out 
of 19 required 
credits). 
Details 
are also 
provided in 
High School 
Graduation 
Requirements 
(2004).
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Revised Code of Washington 
28A.210.360 (Senate Bill 
5436, 2004) requires districts 
to adopt local wellness 
policies and mandates the 
creation of a model policy 
and recommendations 
consistent with and above 
the federal requirements 
by a broad-based advisory 
committee. 

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
472
 
Educating the Student Body
TAbLE C-1 Continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
West Virginia
Code 18-2-7a 
(2005) requires 
students in 
elementary 
school to 
participate in at 
least 30 minutes 
of physical 
education at least 
3 days a week, 
and requires at 
least one full 
period of physical 
education in 
middle school.
Code 18-2-7a 
(2005) allows 
the state to 
grant waivers to 
school districts 
regarding 
physical 
education time 
requirements. 
The waiver 
allows districts 
to develop 
alternative 
programs 
if schools 
do not have 
the required 
number of 
certified physical 
education 
instructors 
or adequate 
physical setting 
to meet the state 
requirements.
State Board 
Policy 2520.6 
(2003) provides 
content 
standards and 
objectives 
for physical 
education 
but does not 
mandate 
any specific 
curriculum.
Code 18-2-7a 
requires the 
state board 
to prescribe 
a program 
within the 
existing health 
and physical 
education 
program that 
incorporates 
fitness testing, 
reporting, 
recognition, 
and fitness 
events and 
incentive 
programs and 
that requires 
participation 
in grades 
4-8 and the 
required high 
school course.
Per Board Policy 
5202 (2004), 
the minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree.
At least one 
full course 
credit of 
physical 
education for 
students in 
high school.
No state policy.
Board Policy 
2436.10 (1984) 
outlines the 
requirements for 
participating in 
nonacademic 
activities in 
grades 7-12.
No state policy.
State Board of Education 
Policy 4321.1 (2008) and 
Statute 126-86-12 (2008) 
outline requirements of 
local wellness policies that 
county boards of education 
are required to follow. 
These exceed the federal 
requirements.
Wisconsin
Statute 121.02 
(2001) and school 
district standards 
require physical 
education at least 
three times per 
week for grades 
K-6, weekly for 
middle school, 
and three courses 
in grades 9-12. 
No state policy.
The Department 
of Public 
Instruction 
provides 
guidance for 
schools in 
its voluntary 
Physical 
Education 
Standards 
(2010). 
Schools are 
not required to 
use a specific 
curriculum 
program.
No state 
policy.
To qualify for 
a license to 
teach physical 
education, an 
applicant must 
complete a 
program that 
incorporates 
Wisconsin’s 
model academic 
standards 
for physical 
education 
and assists 
prospective 
educators in 
developing 
specific 
competencies 
according to 
Administrative 
Code PI 34.30 
(2000). 
Code PI 
18.03 (1986) 
and Statute 
118.33(1) a 
(1) require 
1.5 credits 
in physical 
education to 
be completed 
over 3 years.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The Department of Public 
Instruction published School 
Wellness Policy: Broadening 
the Policy (2005), which puts 
pertinent state statutes and 
policies into context within 
Section 204 requirements 
and promotes a coordinated 
school health plan approach 
to wellness based on CDC 
guidance documents.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
473
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
West Virginia
Code 18-2-7a 
(2005) requires 
students in 
elementary 
school to 
participate in at 
least 30 minutes 
of physical 
education at least 
3 days a week, 
and requires at 
least one full 
period of physical 
education in 
middle school.
Code 18-2-7a 
(2005) allows 
the state to 
grant waivers to 
school districts 
regarding 
physical 
education time 
requirements. 
The waiver 
allows districts 
to develop 
alternative 
programs 
if schools 
do not have 
the required 
number of 
certified physical 
education 
instructors 
or adequate 
physical setting 
to meet the state 
requirements.
State Board 
Policy 2520.6 
(2003) provides 
content 
standards and 
objectives 
for physical 
education 
but does not 
mandate 
any specific 
curriculum.
Code 18-2-7a 
requires the 
state board 
to prescribe 
a program 
within the 
existing health 
and physical 
education 
program that 
incorporates 
fitness testing, 
reporting, 
recognition, 
and fitness 
events and 
incentive 
programs and 
that requires 
participation 
in grades 
4-8 and the 
required high 
school course.
Per Board Policy 
5202 (2004), 
the minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree.
At least one 
full course 
credit of 
physical 
education for 
students in 
high school.
No state policy.
Board Policy 
2436.10 (1984) 
outlines the 
requirements for 
participating in 
nonacademic 
activities in 
grades 7-12.
No state policy.
State Board of Education 
Policy 4321.1 (2008) and 
Statute 126-86-12 (2008) 
outline requirements of 
local wellness policies that 
county boards of education 
are required to follow. 
These exceed the federal 
requirements.
Wisconsin
Statute 121.02 
(2001) and school 
district standards 
require physical 
education at least 
three times per 
week for grades 
K-6, weekly for 
middle school, 
and three courses 
in grades 9-12. 
No state policy.
The Department 
of Public 
Instruction 
provides 
guidance for 
schools in 
its voluntary 
Physical 
Education 
Standards 
(2010). 
Schools are 
not required to 
use a specific 
curriculum 
program.
No state 
policy.
To qualify for 
a license to 
teach physical 
education, an 
applicant must 
complete a 
program that 
incorporates 
Wisconsin’s 
model academic 
standards 
for physical 
education 
and assists 
prospective 
educators in 
developing 
specific 
competencies 
according to 
Administrative 
Code PI 34.30 
(2000). 
Code PI 
18.03 (1986) 
and Statute 
118.33(1) a 
(1) require 
1.5 credits 
in physical 
education to 
be completed 
over 3 years.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The Department of Public 
Instruction published School 
Wellness Policy: Broadening 
the Policy (2005), which puts 
pertinent state statutes and 
policies into context within 
Section 204 requirements 
and promotes a coordinated 
school health plan approach 
to wellness based on CDC 
guidance documents.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
474