EDUCATION PROGRAM
Series 600
Policy Title: Physical Education Code No. 603.6
Students in grades one through twelve are required to participate in physical education courses unless they are excused by the Principal of their attendance center.
Students may be excused from physical courses if the student presents a written statement from a doctor stating that such activities could be injurious to the health of the student or the student has been exempted because of a conflict with the student’s religious beliefs.
Students in grades 9-12 may also be excused from physical education courses if:
Excusal #1 - the student is enrolled in academic courses not otherwise available
Excusal #2 - a student in grades 9-11 who is participating in an organized and supervised athletic or activities program (which requires at least as much participation per week as one-eighth unit of physical education) and be sponsored by the school district, at some time during the trimester in a school year, the student’s principal may excuse the student from physical education for one trimester per year, after consultation with the student’s guidance counselor. The student must fill the PE period with another academic class or work based learning opportunity. This excusal must be requested by the parent, in writing. If the student withdraws from the activity, the student must enroll in physical education.
A student in grade 12 who is participating in an organized and supervised athletic program or marching band program (which requires at least as much participation per week as one-eighth unit of physical education), be sponsored by the school district, and at some time during the trimester in a school year, the student’s principal may excuse the student from physical education for each trimester which the students activity qualifies, after consultation with the student’s guidance counselor. The student must fill the P.E. class period with another credit bearing class or work based learning opportunity. This excusal must be requested by the parent, in writing. If the student withdraws from the activity, the student must enroll in physical education.
- To be eligible for excusal # 2, the activity must equal or exceed 900 minutes in a trimester. If the activity does not equal or exceed 900 minutes in a trimester, parents are not eligible to request this excusal for their student.
- Approved activities include: football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, wrestling, track, marching band, tennis, soccer, golf and swimming.
- The activity must be sponsored by the school district and be supervised by an appropriately licensed and endorsed school staff.
- Students wishing to have a sport/activity considered for this excusal should submit in writing their practice schedule along with a written request to the OHS principal.
Excusal #3 - a student may also be excused from physical education courses if the student is enrolled in a cooperative, work based learning, participating in the legislative page program, enrolled in a junior reserve officer training corps, or other educational program authorized by the school which requires the student’s absence from school.
All graduation requirements for physical education must be met. An excusal from physical education is not an exemption from the required PE credits.
Students who will not participate in physical education must have a written request or statement from their parents.
Approved: February 24, 2004
Reviewed: February 11, 2020
Revised: October 12, 2021
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 256.11; 281 I.A.C. 12.5.
Cross Reference: 504 Student Activities; 603 Instructional Curriculum