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participation in 
interscholastic 
athletic 
programs, (2) 
enrollment in 
academic classes 
required for 
admission to an 
institution of 
higher learning,
(3) enrollment in 
academic classes 
required for 
graduation from 
high school, (4) 
involvement 
in a for-credit 
marching band 
program (grades 
9-12), and (5) 
involvement 
in a school-
sponsored 
JROTC program 
or to receive 
special education 
support and 
services.
105 Illinois 
Compiled 
Statute 5/27-7 
(1998) calls for 
the state Board 
of Education 
to prepare and 
make available 
guidelines that 
incorporate the 
purposes stated 
in the statute 
for physical 
education for all 
grades and types 
of schools. 
In 1997 the state 
approved the 
Illinois Learning 
Standards 
for Physical 
Development 
and Health.
No state 
policy.
Candidates 
must complete a 
state-approved 
program 
for physical 
education that 
is based on 
state content 
and teacher 
standards.
No state 
policy, but 
exemptions 
exist for 
grades 11-12.
No state policy; 
however, recess 
may count 
toward the 
daily physical 
education 
mandate 105 
Illinois Compiled 
Statute 5/27-6 
(1996) at the 
elementary level 
as long as it is 
supervised by a 
certified teacher.
No state policy.
20 Illinois 
Compiled 
Statute 
2705/2705-317 
(2002) requires 
the state Board 
of Education, 
and the 
Department of 
Transportation 
to establish 
and administer 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program.
The state Board of Education 
and the Illinois Nutrition 
Education and Training 
Program provides districts 
with wellness policy 
resources. 
The state Board of Education 
also adopted a State Goal on 
Wellness Policy (2007).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
419
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 
participation in 
interscholastic 
athletic 
programs, (2) 
enrollment in 
academic classes 
required for 
admission to an 
institution of 
higher learning,
(3) enrollment in 
academic classes 
required for 
graduation from 
high school, (4) 
involvement 
in a for-credit 
marching band 
program (grades 
9-12), and (5) 
involvement 
in a school-
sponsored 
JROTC program 
or to receive 
special education 
support and 
services.
105 Illinois 
Compiled 
Statute 5/27-7 
(1998) calls for 
the state Board 
of Education 
to prepare and 
make available 
guidelines that 
incorporate the 
purposes stated 
in the statute 
for physical 
education for all 
grades and types 
of schools. 
In 1997 the state 
approved the 
Illinois Learning 
Standards 
for Physical 
Development 
and Health.
No state 
policy.
Candidates 
must complete a 
state-approved 
program 
for physical 
education that 
is based on 
state content 
and teacher 
standards.
No state 
policy, but 
exemptions 
exist for 
grades 11-12.
No state policy; 
however, recess 
may count 
toward the 
daily physical 
education 
mandate 105 
Illinois Compiled 
Statute 5/27-6 
(1996) at the 
elementary level 
as long as it is 
supervised by a 
certified teacher.
No state policy.
20 Illinois 
Compiled 
Statute 
2705/2705-317 
(2002) requires 
the state Board 
of Education, 
and the 
Department of 
Transportation 
to establish 
and administer 
a Safe Routes 
to School 
program.
The state Board of Education 
and the Illinois Nutrition 
Education and Training 
Program provides districts 
with wellness policy 
resources. 
The state Board of Education 
also adopted a State Goal on 
Wellness Policy (2007).

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
420
 
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
Indiana
Code 20-30-
5-7 (2005) 
requires school 
corporations 
(local school 
districts) to 
provide physical 
fitness as part of 
the curriculum. 
Code 20-30-
5-7.5 (2006) 
requires school 
corporations to 
provide daily 
physical activity 
in elementary 
school, which 
may include 
recess. 
511 Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-
2.6 (2010) 
includes physical 
education in 
the required 
curriculum 
for elementary 
school. 511 
Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-3.6 
includes physical 
education in 
the required 
curriculum for 
middle school.
No state policy.
511 Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-0.6 
(2010) requires 
each school 
corporation to 
develop and 
implement a 
curriculum for 
K-12.
No state 
policy.
Required to 
have a bachelor’s 
degree with a 
content area 
in physical 
education from 
an approved 
program. 
Prospective high 
school teachers 
are required to 
have a major 
in physical 
education from 
an approved 
program. The 
specific details of 
initial licensure 
are outlined in 
515-8-1-29.1 
(2010).
Two credits 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 20-30-
5-7.5 (2006) 
requires school 
corporations to 
provide daily 
physical activity 
for students 
in elementary 
school consisting 
of curricula and 
programs and 
may include the 
use of recess 
beginning in 
the 2006-2007 
school year.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Code 20-26-9 (2006) 
requires each school board 
to establish a coordinated 
school health advisory 
council.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
421
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Indiana
Code 20-30-
5-7 (2005) 
requires school 
corporations 
(local school 
districts) to 
provide physical 
fitness as part of 
the curriculum. 
Code 20-30-
5-7.5 (2006) 
requires school 
corporations to 
provide daily 
physical activity 
in elementary 
school, which 
may include 
recess. 
511 Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-
2.6 (2010) 
includes physical 
education in 
the required 
curriculum 
for elementary 
school. 511 
Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-3.6 
includes physical 
education in 
the required 
curriculum for 
middle school.
No state policy.
511 Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 6.1-5-0.6 
(2010) requires 
each school 
corporation to 
develop and 
implement a 
curriculum for 
K-12.
No state 
policy.
Required to 
have a bachelor’s 
degree with a 
content area 
in physical 
education from 
an approved 
program. 
Prospective high 
school teachers 
are required to 
have a major 
in physical 
education from 
an approved 
program. The 
specific details of 
initial licensure 
are outlined in 
515-8-1-29.1 
(2010).
Two credits 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
Indiana 
Administrative 
Code 20-30-
5-7.5 (2006) 
requires school 
corporations to 
provide daily 
physical activity 
for students 
in elementary 
school consisting 
of curricula and 
programs and 
may include the 
use of recess 
beginning in 
the 2006-2007 
school year.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Code 20-26-9 (2006) 
requires each school board 
to establish a coordinated 
school health advisory 
council.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
422
 
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
Iowa
Code 256.11 
(2005) requires 
physical 
education to be 
taught in grades 
1-12. All students 
in grades 9-12 
are required 
to participate 
in physical 
education 
activities for at 
least a one-eighth 
of a unit each 
semester.
Code 256.11(6) 
(2009) requires 
students in grades 
K-5 to engage 
in 30 minutes of 
physical activity 
daily and students 
in grades 6-12 
to engage in 120 
minutes per week.
Exemptions may 
be granted on the 
basis of conflict 
with religious 
beliefs, upon a 
written request 
from a parent. 
For students 
in grades 6-12, 
the requirement 
may be met by