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participation in 
interscholastic 
athletics, 
school-sponsored 
marching 
band, show 
choir, dance, 
drill, cheer or 
similar activities, 
specified non-
school sports 
activities, or 
similar endeavors 
that involve 
movement, 
manipulation, or 
exertion of the 
body. 
Code 256.11 
(2009) allows 
for exemptions 
for work study, 
special academic 
classes, or 
athletics for 
students in 12th 
grade. 
Students in 
grades 9-12 
may be excused 
if requested 
by a parent or 
guardian but 
must participate 
in an athletic 
program.
This is not 
required if 
a parent or 
guardian files 
a written 
statement with 
the school 
principal stating 
that the course 
or activity 
conflicts with 
religious belief.
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 12.5 
outlines the 
specifics of 
instruction 
that students 
should receive in 
prekindergarten, 
kindergarten, 
and grades 1-12.
No state 
policy.
282 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 13.28 
states that 
the minimum 
requirement 
for a physical 
education 
K-12 basic 
teacher license 
and physical 
education 
endorsement is 
the completion 
of 24 semester 
hours in specific 
courses.
One credit of 
basic physical 
education.
The Iowa 
Association of 
School Board’s 
model wellness 
policy (2010) 
recommends 
at least 20 
minutes a day 
of recess and 
discourages more 
than 2 hours of 
inactivity a day. 
The policy also 
recommends 
that withholding 
recess should not 
be used as a tool 
for punishment.
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 36.14 
prescribes rules 
for participation 
in extracurricular 
athletic 
competition. 
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 36.15 
prescribes 
the eligibility 
requirements. 
Code 280.13 
organization must 
be registered with 
the Department 
of Education.
No state policy.
The Iowa Association of 
School Boards provides a 
model wellness policy and 
additional support materials.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
423
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 
participation in 
interscholastic 
athletics, 
school-sponsored 
marching 
band, show 
choir, dance, 
drill, cheer or 
similar activities, 
specified non-
school sports 
activities, or 
similar endeavors 
that involve 
movement, 
manipulation, or 
exertion of the 
body. 
Code 256.11 
(2009) allows 
for exemptions 
for work study, 
special academic 
classes, or 
athletics for 
students in 12th 
grade. 
Students in 
grades 9-12 
may be excused 
if requested 
by a parent or 
guardian but 
must participate 
in an athletic 
program.
This is not 
required if 
a parent or 
guardian files 
a written 
statement with 
the school 
principal stating 
that the course 
or activity 
conflicts with 
religious belief.
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 12.5 
outlines the 
specifics of 
instruction 
that students 
should receive in 
prekindergarten, 
kindergarten, 
and grades 1-12.
No state 
policy.
282 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 13.28 
states that 
the minimum 
requirement 
for a physical 
education 
K-12 basic 
teacher license 
and physical 
education 
endorsement is 
the completion 
of 24 semester 
hours in specific 
courses.
One credit of 
basic physical 
education.
The Iowa 
Association of 
School Board’s 
model wellness 
policy (2010) 
recommends 
at least 20 
minutes a day 
of recess and 
discourages more 
than 2 hours of 
inactivity a day. 
The policy also 
recommends 
that withholding 
recess should not 
be used as a tool 
for punishment.
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 36.14 
prescribes rules 
for participation 
in extracurricular 
athletic 
competition. 
281 Iowa 
Administrative 
Code 36.15 
prescribes 
the eligibility 
requirements. 
Code 280.13 
organization must 
be registered with 
the Department 
of Education.
No state policy.
The Iowa Association of 
School Boards provides a 
model wellness policy and 
additional support materials.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
424
 
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
Kansas
State Board 
Regulation 
91-31-32 (2005) 
requires that as 
a prerequisite 
for accreditation 
each school 
provide physical 
education. 
The Kansas 
School Wellness 
Policy Model 
Guidelines (2005) 
provide time 
recommendations 
for physical 
education. 
House Resolution 
6011 (2006) 
states the 
legislature’s 
support for 
physical 
education 
and urges the 
state Board of 
Education to 
require some 
type of physical 
education class 
for grades K-12.
Regulation 
91-31-35 
(2005) allows 
the physical 
education 
(including 
health) 
high school 
graduation 
requirement 
to be waived 
for medical 
or religious 
reasons. 
Regulation 
91-31-34 
(2005) states
that “a school 
shall neither 
offer credit for 
athletic practice 
nor count 
athletic practice 
as a physical 
education 
course.”
The state does 
not have a 
required or 
suggested 
curriculum. 
However, the 
Department 
of Education 
encourages 
use of the 
Kansas Model 
Curricular 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education (no 
date available) 
to plan and 
implement 
health education 
in schools.
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.
State Board 
Regulation 
91-31-35 
(2005) 
requires 
one unit 
of physical 
education.
The Wellness 
Policy Guidelines 
recommend 
that elementary 
schools provide 
20 minutes of 
supervised recess 
daily.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state requires local 
education agencies to 
annually complete the online 
Wellness Policy Builder 
assessment tool required by 
Senate Bill 154.
Kentucky
Kentucky schools 
must follow 
the Program 
of Studies for 
Kentucky Schools 
Grades PreK-12 
(2006), which 
outlines minimum 
state education 
requirements 
and provides 
curriculum 
guidelines.
No state policy.
The state Board 
of Education’s 
Learning Goals 
and Academic 
Expectations 
detail the state’s 
standards. 
Under 
revision.
Bachelor’s 
degree, 
successful 
completion of 
the applicable 
assessment, 
and a 
recommendation 
from an 
approved 
preparation 
program.
One unit of 
both health 
and physical 
education. 
No state policy.
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
702 KAR 
7:065 (2004) 
designates the 
Kentucky High 
School Athletic 
Association as the 
agent to manage 
interscholastic 
athletics at the 
high school level.
No state policy.
Revised Statute 158.856 
(2005) requires each school 
food service director to 
annually assess and prepare 
a written report for local 
school board members, 
council members, and 
parents that addresses 
compliance with federal food 
and meal standards.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
425
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
Kansas
State Board 
Regulation 
91-31-32 (2005) 
requires that as 
a prerequisite 
for accreditation 
each school 
provide physical 
education. 
The Kansas 
School Wellness 
Policy Model 
Guidelines (2005) 
provide time 
recommendations 
for physical 
education. 
House Resolution 
6011 (2006) 
states the 
legislature’s 
support for 
physical 
education 
and urges the 
state Board of 
Education to 
require some 
type of physical 
education class 
for grades K-12.
Regulation 
91-31-35 
(2005) allows 
the physical 
education 
(including 
health) 
high school 
graduation 
requirement 
to be waived 
for medical 
or religious 
reasons. 
Regulation 
91-31-34 
(2005) states
that “a school 
shall neither 
offer credit for 
athletic practice 
nor count 
athletic practice 
as a physical 
education 
course.”
The state does 
not have a 
required or 
suggested 
curriculum. 
However, the 
Department 
of Education 
encourages 
use of the 
Kansas Model 
Curricular 
Standards 
for Physical 
Education (no 
date available) 
to plan and 
implement 
health education 
in schools.
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.
State Board 
Regulation 
91-31-35 
(2005) 
requires 
one unit 
of physical 
education.
The Wellness 
Policy Guidelines 
recommend 
that elementary 
schools provide 
20 minutes of 
supervised recess 
daily.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state requires local 
education agencies to 
annually complete the online 
Wellness Policy Builder 
assessment tool required by 
Senate Bill 154.
Kentucky
Kentucky schools 
must follow 
the Program 
of Studies for 
Kentucky Schools 
Grades PreK-12 
(2006), which 
outlines minimum 
state education 
requirements 
and provides 
curriculum 
guidelines.
No state policy.
The state Board 
of Education’s 
Learning Goals 
and Academic 
Expectations 
detail the state’s 
standards. 
Under 
revision.
Bachelor’s 
degree, 
successful 
completion of 
the applicable 
assessment, 
and a 
recommendation 
from an 
approved 
preparation 
program.
One unit of 
both health 
and physical 
education. 
No state policy.
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
702 KAR 
7:065 (2004) 
designates the 
Kentucky High 
School Athletic 
Association as the 
agent to manage 
interscholastic 
athletics at the 
high school level.
No state policy.
Revised Statute 158.856 
(2005) requires each school 
food service director to 
annually assess and prepare 
a written report for local 
school board members, 
council members, and 
parents that addresses 
compliance with federal food 
and meal standards.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
426
 
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
Louisiana
Bulletin 741 
(2008) requires 
students in 
grades 1-6 and 
7-8 to receive 
150 minutes 
of physical 
education per 
week. 
Bulletin 741, 
2717, allows 
an approved 
JROTC program 
to be substituted 
for the two 
credits of health 
and physical 
education upon 
board approval. 
Exemptions 
for medical 
reasons only, but 
the number of 
credits required 
for graduation 
remains at 23.
The Louisiana 
State Board 
of Elementary 
and Secondary 
Education 
formally 
adopted Physical 
Education 
Content 
Standards with 
Bulletin 102 
(2009). 
The standards 
document 
also serves as 
a suggested 
curriculum 
framework, 
although local 
schools are 
not required to 
adhere to it.
No state 
policy.
Bachelor’s 
degree, with 
4 semester 
hours in health 
and physical 
education. 
Secondary 
certification 
requires a 
completion of 30 
hours of health 
and physical 
education 
courses.
In Bulletin 
741 (2005), 
Section 2319 
requires 
1.5 units 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The Department of 
Education, in collaboration 
with the Dairy Council, 
created a comprehensive 
Model School Wellness 
Policy (2006). 
Maine
Statute Title 
20-A 4711 
(2001) requires 
all elementary 
schools to 
provide the basic 
coursework, 
which includes 
physical 
education, for all 
students.
No state policy.
PreK-12 
standards are 
in place, but 
there is no 
curriculum.
Title 20-A 
Chapter 
207-A and 
Chapter 
222 provide 
guidance on 
instruction 
standards and 
assessment 
requirements.
Bachelor’s 
degree with at 
least 36 credit 
hours in physical 
education.
Education 
Rule Chapter 
127 (2002) 
requires 
one credit 
of physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state Board of Education 
adapted its model local 
wellness policy (2005) 
directly from the Michigan 
State Board of Education’s 
Policy (2005).
Maryland
Codes 7-409 
(2005) and 
2-205 (1996) 
require each 
public school to 
have a physical 
education 
program for all 
students in grades 
K-12. 
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
13A.04.13.01 
(2001) outlines 
the requirements 
for the physical 
education 
instructional 
program in 
grades K-12. 
No state policy.
Regulation 
13A.04.13.01 
(2001) provides 
program goals 
for physical 
education in 
grades K-12.
No state 
policy.
Bachelor’s 
degree with 
a major in 
physical 
education or 
completion of 
36 semester 
hours of course 
content work 
in physical 
education and 
completion of 
the professional 
education course 
and experience 
requirements 
found in 
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
13A.12.02.06 
(2003).
One-half 
credit of 
physical 
education.
No state policy.
State Board 
of Education 
Regulation 
13A.06.03.02 
(1994) sets 
the eligibility 
requirements 
for student