Visit the National Academies Press online and register for

participation in 
physical activity.
The North 
Carolina 
Healthful 
Living 
Standard 
Course of 
Study (2006) 
requires that 
students in 
select grades 
complete 
a pre- and 
post-health-
enhancing 
fitness 
assessment, 
including 
heart 
monitoring.
An approved 
teacher 
education 
program 
requires a 
cumulative GPA 
of at least 2.5 
at the time of 
admission to 
and exit from 
the program, 
a satisfactory 
Praxis I score 
for admission 
to the program, 
a minimum of 
10 weeks of 
student teaching, 
completion of 
a technology 
product of 
learning, and 
completion of 
a program of 
study that meets 
state-approved 
standards and 
indicators for 
the specialty 
area.
One credit 
(out of 20) 
in health 
and physical 
education.
Although there is 
no specific recess 
requirement, 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
GCS-S-000 
(2005) requires 
schools to 
provide a 
minimum of 30 
minutes daily 
of moderate to 
vigorous physical 
activity to all K-8 
students. 
Recess is often 
used to fulfill this 
requirement. 
In addition, the 
policy prohibits 
taking away 
structured/
unstructured 
recess and other 
physical activity 
from students 
as a form of 
punishment 
and prohibits 
using severe and 
inappropriate 
exercise as a form 
of punishment 
for students.
16 North 
Carolina 
Administrative 
Code 06E .0202 
(2000) allows 
only students in 
grades 7-12 to 
participate in 
interscholastic 
athletic 
competition. 
Requirements 
to qualify for 
participation are 
outlined in the 
code.
No state policy.
State nutrition consultants 
review local wellness policies 
as part of the School Meal 
Initiative Review.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
451
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
North 
Carolina
State Board of 
Education Policy 
GCS-S-000 
(2005) requires 
students enrolled 
in K-8 to 
participate in 
physical activity 
as part of the 
district’s physical 
education 
curriculum. 
Elementary 
schools should 
consider 
providing 150 
minutes per 
week and middle 
schools should 
consider 225 
minutes per 
week, including 
a minimum 
of physical 
education every 
other day for the 
school year.
No state policy.
The North 
Carolina 
Healthful Living 
Standard Course 
of Study (2006) 
outlines the 
content that 
districts are 
expected to 
follow. 
The curriculum 
calls for students 
in grades K-12 
to receive 
instruction in 
motor skills 
and movement 
patterns, skill 
acquisition and 
performance, 
establishing and 
maintaining 
regular 
participation in 
physical activity, 
accepting 
responsibility 
for personal 
fitness, 
demonstrating 
responsible 
personal 
and social 
behavior in 
physical activity 
settings, and 
development of 
an awareness 
of the intrinsic 
value and 
benefits of 
participation in 
physical activity.
The North 
Carolina 
Healthful 
Living 
Standard 
Course of 
Study (2006) 
requires that 
students in 
select grades 
complete 
a pre- and 
post-health-
enhancing 
fitness 
assessment, 
including 
heart 
monitoring.
An approved 
teacher 
education 
program 
requires a 
cumulative GPA 
of at least 2.5 
at the time of 
admission to 
and exit from 
the program, 
a satisfactory 
Praxis I score 
for admission 
to the program, 
a minimum of 
10 weeks of 
student teaching, 
completion of 
a technology 
product of 
learning, and 
completion of 
a program of 
study that meets 
state-approved 
standards and 
indicators for 
the specialty 
area.
One credit 
(out of 20) 
in health 
and physical 
education.
Although there is 
no specific recess 
requirement, 
State Board of 
Education Policy 
GCS-S-000 
(2005) requires 
schools to 
provide a 
minimum of 30 
minutes daily 
of moderate to 
vigorous physical 
activity to all K-8 
students. 
Recess is often 
used to fulfill this 
requirement. 
In addition, the 
policy prohibits 
taking away 
structured/
unstructured 
recess and other 
physical activity 
from students 
as a form of 
punishment 
and prohibits 
using severe and 
inappropriate 
exercise as a form 
of punishment 
for students.
16 North 
Carolina 
Administrative 
Code 06E .0202 
(2000) allows 
only students in 
grades 7-12 to 
participate in 
interscholastic 
athletic 
competition. 
Requirements 
to qualify for 
participation are 
outlined in the 
code.
No state policy.
State nutrition consultants 
review local wellness policies 
as part of the School Meal 
Initiative Review.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
452
 
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
North Dakota
In Code 15.1-
21-01 (no date 
available), the 
superintendent 
ensures that 
all students 
will receive 
instruction 
in physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirements to 
teach physical 
education are 
possession of a 
license to teach 
by the education 
Code 15.1-18-
10.
Code 15.1-
21-02 (2007) 
requires 
one unit 
of physical 
education, 
of which 
one-half may 
be health for 
grades 9-12 
(local district 
requirements 
range from 
one-half to 
two credits 
of physical 
education for 
graduation). 
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state Department of 
Public Instruction provides 
resources from its Moving 
Forward with School 
Wellness: Making Your 
District Policy Work for 
Healthy Children workshop. 
In conjunction with Team 
Nutrition, the department 
has produced a Local 
Wellness Policy handout 
(2006) with information 
on federal wellness 
requirements and to help 
aid school districts in the 
basic requirements for local 
wellness policies.
Ohio
Pursuant to Ohio 
Administrative 
Codes 3301-
35-04 (2001) 
and 3313.60 
(2001), physical 
education is a 
required part of 
the curriculum 
for all levels, 
although duration 
and frequency 
are not specified. 
Ohio Revised 
Code 3313.6016 
(2010) requires 
the Board of 
Education of 
each city or local 
school district 
to require all 
students in K-12 
to engage in at 
least 30 minutes 
of moderate to 
rigorous physical 
activity each 
school day, 
exclusive of 
recess.
Pursuant 
to Ohio 
Administrative 
Code 3313.603 
(2007), the 
Board of 
Education of 
each school 
district may 
adopt a policy 
to excuse from 
the physical 
education 
requirement 
each student 
who, during 
high school, has 
participated in 
interscholastic 
athletics, 
marching band, 
or cheerleading 
for at least two 
full seasons. 
If the board 
or another 
authority adopts 
such a policy, it 
may not require 
the student 
to complete 
any physical 
education course 
as a condition to 
graduate. 
No state policy.
No state 
policy.
Physical 
educators 
in Ohio are 
required to 
hold a multi-
age license 
in physical 
education valid 
for teaching 
physical 
education in 
grades PreK-12. 
Ohio Revised 
Code 3319.076 
(2010) requires 
all physical 
education 
teachers hired 
by districts after 
July 1, 2013, 
to provide 
instruction in 
grades K-12 
to have a valid 
license for 
teaching physical 
education 
pursuant to 
Ohio Revised 
Code 3319.076 
(2010).
Complete 
one-half unit 
of coursework 
in physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
Healthier Schools: A Brighter 
Tomorrow, which acts as a 
guide for the development of 
wellness policies and points 
to examples of best practices 
in other states.

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix C
 
453
continued
State
State Statute
and/or Policy
Waivers
Curriculum
Assessment
Certification
Graduation 
Requirement
Recess
Athletics
Walk/Bike
Wellness Policy
North Dakota
In Code 15.1-
21-01 (no date 
available), the 
superintendent 
ensures that 
all students 
will receive 
instruction 
in physical 
education.
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state 
policy.
The minimum 
requirements to 
teach physical 
education are 
possession of a 
license to teach 
by the education 
Code 15.1-18-
10.
Code 15.1-
21-02 (2007) 
requires 
one unit 
of physical 
education, 
of which 
one-half may 
be health for 
grades 9-12 
(local district 
requirements 
range from 
one-half to 
two credits 
of physical 
education for 
graduation). 
No state policy.
No state policy.
No state policy.
The state Department of 
Public Instruction provides 
resources from its Moving 
Forward with School 
Wellness: Making Your 
District Policy Work for 
Healthy Children workshop. 
In conjunction with Team 
Nutrition, the department 
has produced a Local 
Wellness Policy handout 
(2006) with information 
on federal wellness 
requirements and to help 
aid school districts in the 
basic requirements for local 
wellness policies.
Ohio
Pursuant to Ohio 
Administrative 
Codes 3301-
35-04 (2001) 
and 3313.60 
(2001), physical 
education is a 
required part of 
the curriculum 
for all levels, 
although duration 
and frequency 
are not specified. 
Ohio Revised 
Code 3313.6016 
(2010) requires 
the Board of 
Education of 
each city or local 
school district 
to require all 
students in K-12 
to engage in at 
least 30 minutes 
of moderate to 
rigorous physical 
activity each 
school day, 
exclusive of 
recess.
Pursuant 
to Ohio 
Administrative 
Code 3313.603 
(2007), the 
Board of 
Education of 
each school 
district may 
adopt a policy 
to excuse from 
the physical 
education 
requirement 
each student 
who, during 
high school, has