Visit the National Academies Press online and register for

particular 
curriculum 
materials.
No state 
policy.
For certification 
in K-12 physical 
education, Rule 
6A-4.0283 
(2003) requires a 
bachelor’s degree 
or higher with 
either a teacher 
education major 
in physical 
education or 30 
semester hours 
in physical 
education that 
includes areas 
specified in the 
rule.
Statute 
1003.428 
requires 
one credit 
in physical 
education 
to include 
integration 
of health 
beginning 
with students 
entering their 
first year of 
high school in 
the 2007-2008 
school year. 
No state policy.
Statute 1000.05 
(2004) prohibits 
the exclusion; 
requires 
equal athletic 
opportunities for 
both genders.
Statute 1002.20 
(2004) mandates 
that all students 
first enrolling in a 
school be eligible; 
specifies academic 
and conduct 
requirements. 
Statute 
335.066 (2002) 
establishes 
the Safe Paths 
to Schools 
program in the 
Department of 
Transportation. 
Statute 18.1003.453 (2006) 
requires every school district 
to review its school wellness 
policy annually.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
413
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Florida
Statute 1003.455 
(2007) requires 
150 minutes 
of physical 
education 
each week for 
students in grades 
K-5. This was 
expanded in 
2008 to include 
the requirement 
for students in 
grade 6 who 
are enrolled in 
a school that 
contains one or 
more elementary 
grades. It requires 
instruction to 
be at least 30 
consecutive 
minutes on any 
day that physical 
education 
instruction is 
given. 
Beginning with 
the 2009-2010 
school year, 
students in grades 
6-8 were required 
to complete the 
equivalent of one 
class period per 
day of physical 
education for one 
semester of each 
school year.
Waivers are 
permitted 
for certain 
conditions for 
high school, 
which include 
JROTC, 
marching 
band, and 
interscholastics 
with specified 
requirements. 
Grades K-8 
can be waived 
for special 
requirements.
The Next 
Generation 
Sunshine State 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education 
(2008), which 
are based on 
the National 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education, 
describe the 
state’s learning 
expectations for 
grades K-12.
The state does 
not provide or 
recommend 
particular 
curriculum 
materials.
No state 
policy.
For certification 
in K-12 physical 
education, Rule 
6A-4.0283 
(2003) requires a 
bachelor’s degree 
or higher with 
either a teacher 
education major 
in physical 
education or 30 
semester hours 
in physical 
education that 
includes areas 
specified in the 
rule.
Statute 
1003.428 
requires 
one credit 
in physical 
education 
to include 
integration 
of health 
beginning 
with students 
entering their 
first year of 
high school in 
the 2007-2008 
school year. 
No state policy.
Statute 1000.05 
(2004) prohibits 
the exclusion; 
requires 
equal athletic 
opportunities for 
both genders.
Statute 1002.20 
(2004) mandates 
that all students 
first enrolling in a 
school be eligible; 
specifies academic 
and conduct 
requirements. 
Statute 
335.066 (2002) 
establishes 
the Safe Paths 
to Schools 
program in the 
Department of 
Transportation. 
Statute 18.1003.453 (2006) 
requires every school district 
to review its school wellness 
policy annually.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
414
 
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
georgia
Georgia Codes 
20-2-142, 20-
2-776 (2009), 
and 20-2-142; 
State Board of 
Education Rules 
160-4-2-.12 
(2011) and 160-
4-2-.47 (2002).
Georgia Code 
20-2-142 (no 
date available) 
requires the 
state Board of 
Education to 
prescribe a course 
of study in health 
and physical 
education for all 
grade levels. 
State Board 
of Education 
Rule 160-4-
2-.12 (2011) 
requires 90 
hours of contact 
instruction 
in physical 
education 
and health for 
students in grades 
K-5 and must be 
made available 
for students in 
grades 6-12.
No state policy.
The Quality 
Core 
Curriculum 
Standards and 
Resources. 
Code 20-2-
777 (2009) 
requires each 
local school 
district to 
conduct an 
annual fitness 
assessment 
program 
once each 
school year 
for students 
in grades 
1-12. The 
assessment 
must be 
conducted 
during a 
physical 
education 
course taught 
by a physical 
education 
instructor.
The minimum 
requirements 
for prospective 
health and 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a renewable 
certificate, 
according to 
Public Standards 
Commission 
Rule 505-2-.71 
(2004).
State Board 
of Education 
Rule 160-4-
2-.47 (2002) 
requires 
high school 
students to 
complete one 
unit of health 
and physical 
education (out 
of 22 units).
No state policy.
State Board of 
Education Rule 
160-5-1-.19 
(1997) requires 
each local school 
board to adopt a 
policy regulating 
competitive 
interscholastic 
activities for 
grades 6-12. 
Student eligibility 
and physical 
examination 
requirements are 
outlined in the 
rule.
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
 
415
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
georgia
Georgia Codes 
20-2-142, 20-
2-776 (2009), 
and 20-2-142; 
State Board of 
Education Rules 
160-4-2-.12 
(2011) and 160-
4-2-.47 (2002).
Georgia Code 
20-2-142 (no 
date available) 
requires the 
state Board of 
Education to 
prescribe a course 
of study in health 
and physical 
education for all 
grade levels. 
State Board 
of Education 
Rule 160-4-
2-.12 (2011) 
requires 90 
hours of contact 
instruction 
in physical 
education 
and health for 
students in grades 
K-5 and must be 
made available 
for students in 
grades 6-12.
No state policy.
The Quality 
Core 
Curriculum 
Standards and 
Resources. 
Code 20-2-
777 (2009) 
requires each 
local school 
district to 
conduct an 
annual fitness 
assessment 
program 
once each 
school year 
for students 
in grades 
1-12. The 
assessment 
must be 
conducted 
during a 
physical 
education 
course taught 
by a physical 
education 
instructor.
The minimum 
requirements 
for prospective 
health and 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a renewable 
certificate, 
according to 
Public Standards 
Commission 
Rule 505-2-.71 
(2004).
State Board 
of Education 
Rule 160-4-
2-.47 (2002) 
requires 
high school 
students to 
complete one 
unit of health 
and physical 
education (out 
of 22 units).
No state policy.
State Board of 
Education Rule 
160-5-1-.19 
(1997) requires 
each local school 
board to adopt a 
policy regulating 
competitive 
interscholastic 
activities for 
grades 6-12. 
Student eligibility 
and physical 
examination 
requirements are 
outlined in the 
rule.
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
416
 
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
Hawaii
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4540 (2006).
The state 
Wellness 
Guidelines, 
which schools 
are required to 
implement over 
a 4-year period 
through 2010-
2011, require 
45 minutes 
of physical 
education classes 
per week for 
grades K-3, 55 
minutes per week 
for grades 4-5, 
107 minutes 
per week for 
elementary 
grade 6, and 200 
minutes per week 
for secondary 
grades 6-12.
No state policy.
The state has 
adopted Physical 
Education 
Content 
Standards 
(2005) for 
grades K-12 
that serve as a 
guideline but 
not a specific 
curriculum 
for schools to 
follow.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree, with 
no additional 
coursework 
in physical 
education. 
The specific 
details of initial 
licensure are 
outlined in 
Administrative 
Rule 8-54-9 
(1998). 
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4540 
(2006) 
requires 
one credit 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Statute 291C-A 
(2012) creates 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program 
within the 
Department of 
Transportation, 
Department of 
Education, and 
Department of 
Health. 
The state Board of Education 
amended its Health, 
Wellness, and Safety Policy 
in 2006 to require the 
Department of Education to 
create a plan for measuring 
implementation of the 
wellness policy. Hawaii is 
unique in that the entire state 
constitutes a single school 
district.
Idaho
Statute 33-
1605 (no date 
available) 
requires all 
school districts 
to provide 
instruction 
in health and 
physical fitness.
No state policy.
The Idaho 
Content 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education 
(2010) set 
uniform content 
standards 
for physical 
education for 
elementary, 
middle, and 
high schools.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
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
 
417
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Hawaii
State Board of 
Education Policy 
4540 (2006).
The state 
Wellness 
Guidelines, 
which schools 
are required to 
implement over 
a 4-year period 
through 2010-
2011, require 
45 minutes 
of physical 
education classes 
per week for 
grades K-3, 55 
minutes per week 
for grades 4-5, 
107 minutes 
per week for 
elementary 
grade 6, and 200 
minutes per week 
for secondary 
grades 6-12.
No state policy.
The state has 
adopted Physical 
Education 
Content 
Standards 
(2005) for 
grades K-12 
that serve as a 
guideline but 
not a specific 
curriculum 
for schools to 
follow.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirement 
for prospective 
physical 
education 
teachers in 
elementary, 
middle, and high 
school grades 
prior to licensure 
is a bachelor’s 
degree, with 
no additional 
coursework 
in physical 
education. 
The specific 
details of initial 
licensure are 
outlined in 
Administrative 
Rule 8-54-9 
(1998). 
State Board 
of Education 
Policy 4540 
(2006) 
requires 
one credit 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Statute 291C-A 
(2012) creates 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program 
within the 
Department of 
Transportation, 
Department of 
Education, and 
Department of 
Health. 
The state Board of Education 
amended its Health, 
Wellness, and Safety Policy 
in 2006 to require the 
Department of Education to 
create a plan for measuring 
implementation of the 
wellness policy. Hawaii is 
unique in that the entire state 
constitutes a single school 
district.
Idaho
Statute 33-
1605 (no date 
available) 
requires all 
school districts 
to provide 
instruction 
in health and 
physical fitness.
No state policy.
The Idaho 
Content 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education 
(2010) set 
uniform content 
standards 
for physical 
education for 
elementary, 
middle, and 
high schools.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state 
policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
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
418
 
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
Illinois
105 Illinois 
Compiled Statute 
5/27-5 (1996) 
mandates all 
school boards 
to provide for 
instruction 
and training 
in physical 
education of 
students in their 
schools. 105 
Illinois Compiled 
Statute 5/27-6 
(1996) also states 
that students 
enrolled in public 
schools (K-12) 
must engage in a 
course of physical 
education daily 
during the school 
day. 
A school board 
may authorize 
an exemption 
for students 
in grades 11 
and 12 for 
the following 
reasons: (1) 
ongoing