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participate 
in physical 
education classes 
unless there is 
an appropriate 
written request 
(from a parent, 
guardian, 
or medical 
practitioner) for 
a student not to 
participate. 
Standards are 
to be developed 
locally. 
The Healthy 
Kids Bill (2010) 
requires the 
Department 
of Education 
to adopt 
the NASPE 
standards 
as statewide 
standards. 
Local districts 
are required 
to develop 
assessments 
for physical 
education. 
State Board of 
Education Rule 
8710.4700 
(2002) requires 
a bachelor’s 
degree.
Must be 
taught at least 
once in high 
school. No 
high school 
graduation 
requirement.
No state policy.
Statute 121A.04 
(2003) requires 
each educational 
institution to 
provide equal 
opportunities 
for both sexes to 
participate in its 
athletic program.
No state policy.
The Healthy Kids Bill (2010) 
encourages the Department 
of Education to develop 
guidelines that local districts 
can adopt.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
431
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Michigan
The Michigan 
State Board 
of Education’s 
nonbinding 
Policy on 
Quality Physical 
Education (2003) 
recommends that 
instructional 
periods total 150 
minutes per week 
for elementary 
school students 
and 225 minutes 
per week for 
middle and high 
school students. 
The Model 
Local Wellness 
Policy (2005) 
recommends 
districts 
adopt policies 
promoting 
physical 
education 
opportunities.
Michigan 
Compiled Law 
380.1278b 
allows a student 
to substitute 
one physical 
education and 
health credit 
to acquire 
extra English 
language arts, 
mathematics, 
science, or world 
language credits, 
if a student has 
an approved 
personal 
curriculum. 
In addition, 
students may 
test out of any 
state-required 
graduation 
credit. 
Schools are 
encouraged 
to use the 
Michigan 
Department 
of Education’s 
Physical 
Education 
Content 
Standards and 
Benchmarks 
(1998). 
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
Michigan 
Compiled Law 
380.1278a 
(2007) 
requires one 
credit of 
health and 
physical 
education. 
Schools have 
flexibility 
in how they 
meet the 
requirement.
The Michigan 
State Board of 
Education (2000) 
recommends that 
public schools 
offer daily recess 
or physical 
activity.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The Michigan State Board 
of Education Model Local 
Wellness Policy (2005) 
provides a comprehensive 
policy template for districts 
to meet Section 204 
requirements that can be 
modified to address local 
governance issues.
Minnesota
Statute 120A.22 
(2005) requires 
physical 
education for 
students ages 
7-16 (and 
frequency 
not specified) 
and assigns 
responsibility 
for developing 
standards to local 
districts. 
Although not 
outlined in code, 
precedence has 
determined 
that physical 
education must 
be taught at all 
grade levels in 
elementary and 
middle/junior 
high schools, and 
must be taught at 
least once in high 
school. 
The state Board 
of Education 
requires all 
students to 
participate 
in physical 
education classes 
unless there is 
an appropriate 
written request 
(from a parent, 
guardian, 
or medical 
practitioner) for 
a student not to 
participate. 
Standards are 
to be developed 
locally. 
The Healthy 
Kids Bill (2010) 
requires the 
Department 
of Education 
to adopt 
the NASPE 
standards 
as statewide 
standards. 
Local districts 
are required 
to develop 
assessments 
for physical 
education. 
State Board of 
Education Rule 
8710.4700 
(2002) requires 
a bachelor’s 
degree.
Must be 
taught at least 
once in high 
school. No 
high school 
graduation 
requirement.
No state policy.
Statute 121A.04 
(2003) requires 
each educational 
institution to 
provide equal 
opportunities 
for both sexes to 
participate in its 
athletic program.
No state policy.
The Healthy Kids Bill (2010) 
encourages the Department 
of Education to develop 
guidelines that local districts 
can adopt.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
432
 
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
Mississippi
Code 37-13-134 
(2007) requires 
the following 
for physical 
education: 150 
minutes weekly 
of activity-based 
instruction as 
defined by the 
state Board 
of Education 
instruction for 
K-8 and half of a 
Carnegie unit of 
physical activity 
or physical 
education for 
graduation 
(grades 9-12). 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4012 (2008) 
defines physical 
education, 
physical activity 
and activity- 
based instruction 
and further 
stipulates that 
of the required 
150 minutes of 
activity-based 
instruction, the 
total number 
of minutes 
of physical 
education may 
not be under 
50 per week for 
grades K-8.
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4012 
(2008) allows 
extracurricular 
activities in 
grades 7-8, 
which is 
sanctioned by 
the Mississippi 
High School 
Association 
and JROTC if 
approved by 
the Mississippi 
Department 
of Education 
supervises 
practices and 
games. 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4012 (2008) 
also allows 
for a medical 
exemption.
Standard 33 of 
the Mississippi 
Public School 
Accountability 
Standards 
(2006) states the 
basic curriculum 
of each 
elementary and 
middle school to 
include physical 
education. 
Standard 32 
requires physical 
education be a 
part of the high 
school basic 
curriculum on 
an elective basis.
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4012 
(2008) 
requires 
fitness testing 
using the 
Fitnessgram
®
, 
Activity- 
gram
®
, 
President’s 
Challenge 
to Fitness, 
or other 
comparable 
program. 
The 
assessment 
must be 
conducted 
in grade 5, 
and the grade 
the student 
will earn 
the one-half 
Carnegie unit 
of physical 
education for 
graduation.
The minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree, a 
standard MS 
license, and 21 
semester hours 
in physical 
education.
Half of a 
Carnegie unit 
of physical 
activity or 
physical 
education. 
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state Department of 
Education produced the 
Local School Wellness Policy 
Guide for Development 
(2005).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
433
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Mississippi
Code 37-13-134 
(2007) requires 
the following 
for physical 
education: 150 
minutes weekly 
of activity-based 
instruction as 
defined by the 
state Board 
of Education 
instruction for 
K-8 and half of a 
Carnegie unit of 
physical activity 
or physical 
education for 
graduation 
(grades 9-12). 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4012 (2008) 
defines physical 
education, 
physical activity 
and activity- 
based instruction 
and further 
stipulates that 
of the required 
150 minutes of 
activity-based 
instruction, the 
total number 
of minutes 
of physical 
education may 
not be under 
50 per week for 
grades K-8.
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4012 
(2008) allows 
extracurricular 
activities in 
grades 7-8, 
which is 
sanctioned by 
the Mississippi 
High School 
Association 
and JROTC if 
approved by 
the Mississippi 
Department 
of Education 
supervises 
practices and 
games. 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4012 (2008) 
also allows 
for a medical 
exemption.
Standard 33 of 
the Mississippi 
Public School 
Accountability 
Standards 
(2006) states the 
basic curriculum 
of each 
elementary and 
middle school to 
include physical 
education. 
Standard 32 
requires physical 
education be a 
part of the high 
school basic 
curriculum on 
an elective basis.
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4012 
(2008) 
requires 
fitness testing 
using the 
Fitnessgram
®
, 
Activity- 
gram
®
, 
President’s 
Challenge 
to Fitness, 
or other 
comparable 
program. 
The 
assessment 
must be 
conducted 
in grade 5, 
and the grade 
the student 
will earn 
the one-half 
Carnegie unit 
of physical 
education for 
graduation.
The minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree, a 
standard MS 
license, and 21 
semester hours 
in physical 
education.
Half of a 
Carnegie unit 
of physical 
activity or 
physical 
education. 
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state Department of 
Education produced the 
Local School Wellness Policy 
Guide for Development 
(2005).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
434
 
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
Missouri
Statute 161.102.
The Missouri 
School 
Improvement 
Program, which 
includes school 
accreditation 
standards (2001), 
requires that 
each elementary 
student receives 
instruction 
in physical 
education for a 
minimum of 50 
minutes each 
week (25 minutes 
for half-day 
kindergarten 
classes) and 
that the classes 
be taught 
by teachers 
certificated in the 
field. 
Junior high/
middle schools 
must teach 
physical 
education to 
all students for 
a minimum of 
3,000 minutes 
each year. 
None, except for 
students in the 
adult diploma 
program. 
The state’s 
Graduation 
Requirements 
Handbook 
(2009) specifies 
that “courses 
devoted to 
conditioning for 
interscholastic 
sports or 
practicing for 
interscholastic 
sports may not 
be counted 
toward meeting 
the minimum 
requirement.”
5 CSR 50-
375.100 (1996) 
lists the Show-
Me standards 
for health 
and physical 
education. 
The state’s 
voluntary 
framework 
is Missouri’s 
Framework 
for Curriculum 
Development 
in Health 
Education 
and Physical 
Education 
(2009), which 
calls for students 
to receive 
instruction 
on efficiency 
of human 
movement and 
performance 
and on physical 
activity and 
lifetime 
wellness. 
Each year 
schools are 
required to 
submit by 
building the 
percentage of 
5th- and 9th- 
grade students 
who meet 
the minimum 
criteria for 
the Missouri 
Physical 
Fitness 
Assessment 
Program 
(2000).
The state does 
not have a policy 
specifically 
stating pre-
service physical 
educator 
requirements; 
however, revised 
Statute 168.081 
(2002) prohibits 
a person from 
engaging in 
the practice 
of teaching in 
grades K-12 
without a 
valid Missouri 
certificate.
One unit 
credit in 
physical 
education, out 
of 24 specified 
units, as 
outlined in the 
Graduation 
Requirements 
Handbook 
(2009).
SB291 (2009) 
requires 
elementary 
schools to 
provide students 
a minimum of 
one recess period 
of 20 minutes per 
day. This may be 
incorporated into 
the lunch period.
No state policy.
No state policy.
A local wellness policy 
presentation created by a 
Department of Education 
staff member includes 
resources, guidelines, 
requirements, etc., to aid 
districts in developing local 
wellness policies.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
435
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Missouri
Statute 161.102.
The Missouri 
School 
Improvement 
Program, which 
includes school 
accreditation 
standards (2001), 
requires that 
each elementary 
student receives 
instruction 
in physical 
education for a 
minimum of 50 
minutes each 
week (25 minutes 
for half-day 
kindergarten 
classes) and 
that the classes 
be taught 
by teachers 
certificated in the 
field. 
Junior high/
middle schools 
must teach 
physical 
education to 
all students for 
a minimum of 
3,000 minutes 
each year. 
None, except for 
students in the 
adult diploma 
program. 
The state’s 
Graduation 
Requirements 
Handbook 
(2009) specifies 
that “courses 
devoted to 
conditioning for 
interscholastic 
sports or 
practicing for 
interscholastic 
sports may not 
be counted 
toward meeting 
the minimum 
requirement.”
5 CSR 50-
375.100 (1996) 
lists the Show-
Me standards 
for health 
and physical 
education. 
The state’s 
voluntary 
framework 
is Missouri’s 
Framework 
for Curriculum 
Development 
in Health 
Education 
and Physical 
Education 
(2009), which 
calls for students 
to receive 
instruction 
on efficiency 
of human 
movement and 
performance 
and on physical 
activity and 
lifetime 
wellness. 
Each year 
schools are 
required to 
submit by 
building the 
percentage of 
5th- and 9th- 
grade students 
who meet 
the minimum 
criteria for 
the Missouri 
Physical 
Fitness 
Assessment 
Program 
(2000).
The state does 
not have a policy 
specifically 
stating pre-
service physical 
educator 
requirements; 
however, revised 
Statute 168.081 
(2002) prohibits 
a person from 
engaging in 
the practice 
of teaching in 
grades K-12 
without a 
valid Missouri 
certificate.
One unit 
credit in 
physical 
education, out 
of 24 specified 
units, as 
outlined in the 
Graduation 
Requirements 
Handbook 
(2009).
SB291 (2009) 
requires 
elementary 
schools to 
provide students 
a minimum of 
one recess period 
of 20 minutes per 
day. This may be 
incorporated into 
the lunch period.
No state policy.
No state policy.
A local wellness policy 
presentation created by a 
Department of Education 
staff member includes 
resources, guidelines, 
requirements, etc., to aid 
districts in developing local 
wellness policies.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
436
 
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
Montana
Elementary, 
middle/junior 
high, and high 
school students 
are required 
to take health 
enhancement 
courses per 
standards 
for school 
accreditation 
outlined in 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 10.54.2501 
(2000). 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 10.55.905 
(2000) requires 
one unit of health 
enhancement, 
with one-half 
unit each year, 
for 2 years in 
high school and 
one-half unit each 
year for middle 
school students. 
A “unit” is equal 
to 225 minutes 
per week. 
(Note: In the 
Montana School 
Accreditation 
Standards, the 
traditional 
disciplines of 
health education 
and physical 
education are 
combined into 
one content area 
called health 
enhancement.)
No state policy.
With State 
Board of 
Education 
Administrative 
Rule 
10.54.7010-
7073 (1999), 
the State 
Board adopted 
the Health 
Enhancement 
K-12 
Content and 
Performance 
Standards for 
grade levels (by 
end of grades 4, 
8, and 12). 
The state does 
not require 
schools to 
follow a specific 
curriculum.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 
10.55.905 
(2000) 
requires one 
unit of health 
enhancement, 
with one-half 
unit each year, 
for 2 years in 
high school.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The State Board of Public 
Education adopted a position 
statement encouraging 
districts to adopt and 
implement local wellness 
policies.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
437
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Montana
Elementary, 
middle/junior 
high, and high 
school students 
are required 
to take health 
enhancement 
courses per 
standards 
for school 
accreditation 
outlined in 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 10.54.2501 
(2000). 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 10.55.905 
(2000) requires 
one unit of health 
enhancement, 
with one-half 
unit each year, 
for 2 years in 
high school and 
one-half unit each 
year for middle 
school students. 
A “unit” is equal 
to 225 minutes 
per week. 
(Note: In the 
Montana School 
Accreditation 
Standards, the 
traditional 
disciplines of 
health education 
and physical 
education are 
combined into 
one content area 
called health 
enhancement.)
No state policy.
With State 
Board of 
Education 
Administrative 
Rule 
10.54.7010-
7073 (1999), 
the State 
Board adopted 
the Health 
Enhancement 
K-12 
Content and 
Performance 
Standards for 
grade levels (by 
end of grades 4, 
8, and 12). 
The state does 
not require 
schools to 
follow a specific 
curriculum.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Rule 
10.55.905 
(2000) 
requires one 
unit of health 
enhancement, 
with one-half 
unit each year, 
for 2 years in 
high school.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The State Board of Public 
Education adopted a position 
statement encouraging 
districts to adopt and 
implement local wellness 
policies.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
438
 
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
Nebraska
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 (no 
date available) 
requires that 
the high school 
program include 
20 instructional 
units (out of a 
total of 400) or 
2 years of daily 
classes or the 
equivalent in 
personal health 
and physical 
fitness. 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9 (no 
date available) 
and 92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9 (no 
date available) 
mandate physical 
education for 
elementary and 
middle school.
No state policy.
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.02A6, 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9, and 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 
outline the 
required K-12 
curriculum 
for Nebraska 
schools. 
The Nebraska 
Physical 
Education 
Essential 
Learnings 
(2006) outlines 
what students 
are expected to 
know and be 
able to do by the 
end of grades 2, 
5, 8, and 12.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirements 
for a physical 
education 
endorsement 
are at least 27 
semester hours 
in physical 
education 
courses for 
K-6 or 7-12 
endorsements. 
Both 
endorsements 
require a 
minimum of 15 
semester hours 
in scientific 
foundations 
and a minimum 
of 12 semester 
hours in 
techniques. 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 (no 
date available) 
requires 
that the 
high school 
program 
include 20 
instructional 
units (out 
of a total of 
400) or 2 
years of daily 
classes or the 
equivalent 
in personal 
health and 
physical 
fitness.
No state policy.
Statute 79-
2,116 (no 
date available) 
declares it 
unfair and 
discriminatory to 
deny comparable 
opportunities for 
interscholastic 
and intramural 
athletic programs 
for both genders.
No state policy.
No state policy.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
439
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Nebraska
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 (no 
date available) 
requires that 
the high school 
program include 
20 instructional 
units (out of a 
total of 400) or 
2 years of daily 
classes or the 
equivalent in 
personal health 
and physical 
fitness. 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9 (no 
date available) 
and 92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9 (no 
date available) 
mandate physical 
education for 
elementary and 
middle school.
No state policy.
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.02A6, 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.03A9, and 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 
outline the 
required K-12 
curriculum 
for Nebraska 
schools. 
The Nebraska 
Physical 
Education 
Essential 
Learnings 
(2006) outlines 
what students 
are expected to 
know and be 
able to do by the 
end of grades 2, 
5, 8, and 12.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirements 
for a physical 
education 
endorsement 
are at least 27 
semester hours 
in physical 
education 
courses for 
K-6 or 7-12 
endorsements. 
Both 
endorsements 
require a 
minimum of 15 
semester hours 
in scientific 
foundations 
and a minimum 
of 12 semester 
hours in 
techniques. 
92 Nebraska 
Administrative 
Code 10-
004.04B7 (no 
date available) 
requires 
that the 
high school 
program 
include 20 
instructional 
units (out 
of a total of 
400) or 2 
years of daily 
classes or the 
equivalent 
in personal 
health and 
physical 
fitness.
No state policy.
Statute 79-
2,116 (no 
date available) 
declares it 
unfair and 
discriminatory to 
deny comparable 
opportunities for 
interscholastic 
and intramural 
athletic programs 
for both genders.
No state policy.
No state policy.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
440
 
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
Nevada
Nevada Revised 
Statute 389.018 
(2003) requires 
physical 
education be 
taught, as 
practicable, in all 
public schools. 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Codes 389.2425, 
389.283, 
389.2946, 
389.386, and 
389.485, 
detail student 
performance 
standards 
in physical 
education for 
grades 2, 3, 5, 8, 
and high school. 
No mandate 
for elementary, 
middle, or high 
school. 
State Board 
of Education 
Administrative 
Code 389.488 
(1987) allows 
a student to be 
exempt from 
taking a course 
in physical 
education based 
on a physical or 
mental condition 
supported 
by a written 
statement from 
a physician, 
religious beliefs 
supported 
by a written 
statement from a 
parent/guardian, 
enrollment 
in JROTC, 
or intentions 
of enrolling 
in a course 
comparable 
to physical 
education. 
A school district 
may exempt 
a pupil for 
not more than 
one credit for