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participation in 
extracurricular 
activities for 
pupils in grades 
6-12.
No state policy.
The Department of 
Education has a step-by-
step guide designed to walk 
schools through the process 
of creating a wellness policy. 

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
402
 
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
Arkansas
Act 317; Code 
20-7-135
Mandate: Act 
317 (2007) 
requires 60 
minutes per 
calendar week 
of physical 
education 
training and 
instruction for 
students in grades 
K-6 and for 
grades 5-8 for 
schools organized 
to teach these 
grades. 
The statute 
requires 90 
minutes of 
additional 
physical activity 
per week for 
grades K-6, 
which may 
include physical 
education in 
addition to 
the previous 
requirement, 
daily recess, or 
intramural sports. 
The Rules 
Governing 
Nutrition and 
Physical Activity 
Standards allow 
local districts to 
require physical 
education or 
activity in 
excess of these 
requirements. 
Arkansas Public 
Schools (2009) 
details the course 
requirements 
for students: 
in grades K-8 
all students 
must receive 
instruction 
in physical 
education (the 
amount is not 
specified).
Code 6-16-132 
(2003) waivers 
only for medical 
or religious 
reasons.
Arkansas has 
not formally 
adopted state 
standards 
for physical 
education; 
however, the 
state does 
require schools 
to follow the 
K-8 Physical 
Education 
and Health 
Curriculum 
Framework 
and Physical 
Education and 
Curriculum 
Framework for 
Grades 9-12 
(2005).
The 
Department 
of Education 
requires 
students to 
participate in 
a “national 
recognized 
health-fitness 
assessment for 
the purpose 
of setting age-
appropriate 
personal 
goals” 
along with 
improvement 
in various 
physical 
areas. 
Code 6-16-132 
(2003) does not 
require schools 
or districts to 
hire personnel 
certified in 
physical 
education. 
However, 
minimum 
requirements 
are a bachelor’s 
degree and 
passing 
scores on the 
appropriate 
Praxis content 
knowledge 
exam. 
The State Board 
of Education’s 
Rules Governing 
Nutrition and 
Physical Activity 
Standards 
(2007) require 
districts to 
employ at least 
one licensed and/
or qualified full-
time physical 
education 
teacher for every 
500 students in 
grades K-6. 
Since 2012, 
all personnel 
teaching physical 
education in 
grades K-12 
must hold 
a physical 
education license 
appropriate for 
the grade levels 
being taught.
One-half 
unit course 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Act 1220 of 2003 (Codes 
6-7-117 through 6-7-119) 
predates Section 204 and is 
generally stronger than the 
federal requirements.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
403
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Arkansas
Act 317; Code 
20-7-135
Mandate: Act 
317 (2007) 
requires 60 
minutes per 
calendar week 
of physical 
education 
training and 
instruction for 
students in grades 
K-6 and for 
grades 5-8 for 
schools organized 
to teach these 
grades. 
The statute 
requires 90 
minutes of 
additional 
physical activity 
per week for 
grades K-6, 
which may 
include physical 
education in 
addition to 
the previous 
requirement, 
daily recess, or 
intramural sports. 
The Rules 
Governing 
Nutrition and 
Physical Activity 
Standards allow 
local districts to 
require physical 
education or 
activity in 
excess of these 
requirements. 
Arkansas Public 
Schools (2009) 
details the course 
requirements 
for students: 
in grades K-8 
all students 
must receive 
instruction 
in physical 
education (the 
amount is not 
specified).
Code 6-16-132 
(2003) waivers 
only for medical 
or religious 
reasons.
Arkansas has 
not formally 
adopted state 
standards 
for physical 
education; 
however, the 
state does 
require schools 
to follow the 
K-8 Physical 
Education 
and Health 
Curriculum 
Framework 
and Physical 
Education and 
Curriculum 
Framework for 
Grades 9-12 
(2005).
The 
Department 
of Education 
requires 
students to 
participate in 
a “national 
recognized 
health-fitness 
assessment for 
the purpose 
of setting age-
appropriate 
personal 
goals” 
along with 
improvement 
in various 
physical 
areas. 
Code 6-16-132 
(2003) does not 
require schools 
or districts to 
hire personnel 
certified in 
physical 
education. 
However, 
minimum 
requirements 
are a bachelor’s 
degree and 
passing 
scores on the 
appropriate 
Praxis content 
knowledge 
exam. 
The State Board 
of Education’s 
Rules Governing 
Nutrition and 
Physical Activity 
Standards 
(2007) require 
districts to 
employ at least 
one licensed and/
or qualified full-
time physical 
education 
teacher for every 
500 students in 
grades K-6. 
Since 2012, 
all personnel 
teaching physical 
education in 
grades K-12 
must hold 
a physical 
education license 
appropriate for 
the grade levels 
being taught.
One-half 
unit course 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Act 1220 of 2003 (Codes 
6-7-117 through 6-7-119) 
predates Section 204 and is 
generally stronger than the 
federal requirements.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
404
 
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
California
Concurrent 
Resolution 31; 
Education Codes 
33350, 51210, 
51210-1, 51222, 
51223, 51225-3
Education Code 
51210 (no 
date available) 
requires 200 
minutes of 
physical 
education to be 
included in the 
adopted course of 
study for grades 
1-6. 
Education Code 
51222 requires 
a minimum of 
400 minutes 
of physical 
education 
instruction every 
10 school days 
for students in 
grades 7-12. 
Education Code 
51225.3 (2000) 
does not allow a 
student to receive 
a high school 
diploma without 
completion of 
two courses 
in physical 
education, unless 
an exemption was 
made.
Education Code 
51241 (2007) 
permits a school 
district to 
exempt a student 
if the pupil is 
ill or injured 
and a modified 
program to meet 
the needs of the 
pupil cannot 
be provided 
or enrolled 
for one-half, 
or less, of the 
work normally 
required of full-
time pupils. 
Exemptions 
from physical 
education 
courses may be 
granted to pupils 
for 2 years at 
any time during 
grades 10-12, 
inclusive, if the 
pupil has met 
satisfactorily 
any five of the 
six standards 
of the physical 
performance test 
administered in 
grade 9 pursuant 
to Section 
60800. 
Education 
Code 51242 
(1976) states 
that students 
who participate 
in school- 
sponsored 
interscholastic 
athletic 
programs may 
be exempted 
from courses 
in physical 
education.
Education Code 
60605.2 (2001): 
The State Board 
of Education 
adopted Physical 
Education 
Model Content 
Standards for 
California 
Public Schools 
(2005). 
However, the 
education 
code does not 
require schools 
to follow the 
standards. 
California 
Code of 
Regulations 
Title 5, 
Division 1, 
Chapter 10, 
Subchapter 
1, Article 
3.1, 10060, 
requires each 
high school 
student to 
be evaluated 
on his or her 
progress in 
each of the 
following 
content areas: 
the effect 
of physical 
activity on 
dynamic 
health, 
mechanics 
of body 
movement, 
aquatics, 
gymnastics 
and tumbling, 
individual and 
dual sports, 
rhythms and 
dance, team 
sports, and 
combatives.
Education Code 
51210.2 (2002) 
encourages each 
school district 
to employ a 
credentialed 
physical 
education 
teacher within 
any elementary 
school and 
to provide 
each teacher 
instruction 
in physical 
education 
with yearly 
theoretical 
practical training 
in developmental 
physical 
education. 
Education Code 
44257 (1993) 
requires the 
commission to 
issue single- 
subject teaching 
credentials 
in physical 
education.
Two courses 
in physical 
education.
Not required, 
but daily recess is 
encouraged.
Education Code 
33350 (1976) 
encourages 
districts to 
provide extra-
curricular 
physical 
activity. The 
education code 
also establishes 
the California 
Department of 
Education as the 
authority over 
interscholastic 
athletics.
Streets and 
Highways 
Code 2333.5 
(1999) requires 
the California 
Department of 
Transportation, 
in conjunction 
with California 
Highway 
Patrol, to 
establish and 
administer a 
Safe Routes 
to School 
program.
Guidance for the 
Development of California 
School Wellness Policies 
(2005), developed in 
a collaborative effort 
between the Department 
of Education and other 
organizations, provides 
districts with suggestions and 
concrete recommendations 
for meeting Section 204 
requirements (Project LEAN 
and Healthy Children Ready 
to Learn).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
405
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
California
Concurrent 
Resolution 31; 
Education Codes 
33350, 51210, 
51210-1, 51222, 
51223, 51225-3
Education Code 
51210 (no 
date available) 
requires 200 
minutes of 
physical 
education to be 
included in the 
adopted course of 
study for grades 
1-6. 
Education Code 
51222 requires 
a minimum of 
400 minutes 
of physical 
education 
instruction every 
10 school days 
for students in 
grades 7-12. 
Education Code 
51225.3 (2000) 
does not allow a 
student to receive 
a high school 
diploma without 
completion of 
two courses 
in physical 
education, unless 
an exemption was 
made.
Education Code 
51241 (2007) 
permits a school 
district to 
exempt a student 
if the pupil is 
ill or injured 
and a modified 
program to meet 
the needs of the 
pupil cannot 
be provided 
or enrolled 
for one-half, 
or less, of the 
work normally 
required of full-
time pupils. 
Exemptions 
from physical 
education 
courses may be 
granted to pupils 
for 2 years at 
any time during 
grades 10-12, 
inclusive, if the 
pupil has met 
satisfactorily 
any five of the 
six standards 
of the physical 
performance test 
administered in 
grade 9 pursuant 
to Section 
60800. 
Education 
Code 51242 
(1976) states 
that students 
who participate 
in school- 
sponsored 
interscholastic 
athletic 
programs may 
be exempted 
from courses 
in physical 
education.
Education Code 
60605.2 (2001): 
The State Board 
of Education 
adopted Physical 
Education 
Model Content 
Standards for 
California 
Public Schools 
(2005). 
However, the 
education 
code does not 
require schools 
to follow the 
standards. 
California 
Code of 
Regulations 
Title 5, 
Division 1, 
Chapter 10, 
Subchapter 
1, Article 
3.1, 10060, 
requires each 
high school 
student to 
be evaluated 
on his or her 
progress in 
each of the 
following 
content areas: 
the effect 
of physical 
activity on 
dynamic 
health, 
mechanics 
of body 
movement, 
aquatics, 
gymnastics 
and tumbling, 
individual and 
dual sports, 
rhythms and 
dance, team 
sports, and 
combatives.
Education Code 
51210.2 (2002) 
encourages each 
school district 
to employ a 
credentialed 
physical 
education 
teacher within 
any elementary 
school and 
to provide 
each teacher 
instruction 
in physical 
education 
with yearly 
theoretical 
practical training 
in developmental 
physical 
education. 
Education Code 
44257 (1993) 
requires the 
commission to 
issue single- 
subject teaching 
credentials 
in physical 
education.
Two courses 
in physical 
education.
Not required, 
but daily recess is 
encouraged.
Education Code 
33350 (1976) 
encourages 
districts to 
provide extra-
curricular 
physical 
activity. The 
education code 
also establishes 
the California 
Department of 
Education as the 
authority over 
interscholastic 
athletics.
Streets and 
Highways 
Code 2333.5 
(1999) requires 
the California 
Department of 
Transportation, 
in conjunction 
with California 
Highway 
Patrol, to 
establish and 
administer a 
Safe Routes 
to School 
program.
Guidance for the 
Development of California 
School Wellness Policies 
(2005), developed in 
a collaborative effort 
between the Department 
of Education and other 
organizations, provides 
districts with suggestions and 
concrete recommendations 
for meeting Section 204 
requirements (Project LEAN 
and Healthy Children Ready 
to Learn).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
406
 
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
Colorado
House Bill 
11-1069 (2011) 
requires each 
school district 
board of 
education to 
adopt a policy 
that incorporates 
a minimum 
number of 
minutes of 
physical activity 
each month, or 
each day if the 
school meets 
less than 5 days 
per week, into 
each elementary 
school student’s 
schedule. 
The requirement 
for students 
who attend 5 
days per week 
for a full day is 
600 minutes per 
month. 
No state policy.
The 
Comprehensive 
Health and 
Physical 
Education 
Standards 
(2009) provide 
standards and 
a suggested 
curriculum 
framework 
for physical 
education. 
No state 
policy.
Bachelor’s 
degree in the 
liberal arts, 
with additional 
coursework 
in physical 
education.
High school 
physical 
education 
teachers are 
required to have 
a bachelor’s 
degree in 
physical 
education, as 
outlined in 
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
2260.5-R-8.16 
(2004).
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Statute 43-1-
1601 (2004) 
requires the 
Department of 
Transportation 
to establish 
and administer 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program to 
distribute 
federal funds 
to improve 
pedestrian and 
bicyclist safety 
in school areas. 
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
 
407
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Colorado
House Bill 
11-1069 (2011) 
requires each 
school district 
board of 
education to 
adopt a policy 
that incorporates 
a minimum 
number of 
minutes of 
physical activity 
each month, or 
each day if the 
school meets 
less than 5 days 
per week, into 
each elementary 
school student’s 
schedule. 
The requirement 
for students 
who attend 5 
days per week 
for a full day is 
600 minutes per 
month. 
No state policy.
The 
Comprehensive 
Health and 
Physical 
Education 
Standards 
(2009) provide 
standards and 
a suggested 
curriculum 
framework 
for physical 
education. 
No state 
policy.
Bachelor’s 
degree in the 
liberal arts, 
with additional 
coursework 
in physical 
education.
High school 
physical 
education 
teachers are 
required to have 
a bachelor’s 
degree in 
physical 
education, as 
outlined in 
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
2260.5-R-8.16 
(2004).
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Statute 43-1-
1601 (2004) 
requires the 
Department of 
Transportation 
to establish 
and administer 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program to 
distribute 
federal funds 
to improve 
pedestrian and 
bicyclist safety 
in school areas. 
No state policy.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
408
 
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
Connecticut
Chapter 164 
Section 10-16b, 
Chapter 170 
Section 10-221o, 
and Chapter 170 
Section 10-221a. 
Statute Chapter 
164 Sec. 10-16b 
(1997) requires 
that students in 
public schools 
receive physical 
education 
instruction. 
Statute Chapter 
170 Section 
10-221o of the 
Connecticut 
General Statutes 
(2004) requires 
each local board 
of education 
to include in 
a regular K-5 
school day a 
period of physical 
exercise, with 
the exception of 
those students 
requiring special 
education and 
related services. 
The Action 
Guide for 
School Nutrition 
and Physical 
Activity Policies 
(2009) provides 
guidelines 
and policy 
recommendations 
to local districts 
for physical 
education, along 
with other areas.
Statute Chapter 
170 Section 
10-221a allows 
for medical 
exemption.
No state policy.
Physical 
Fitness 
Assessment: 
All students 
in grades 4, 
6, 8, and 10