Trustees approve revisions to Regulation 51.27 to add permissible PE exemptions including marching band and military science

The Clark County School District Board approved a notice of intent on Feb. 13, 2025, to amend Regulation 51.27 (High School Graduation Requirements) to align district rules with Nevada Administrative Code and to add permissible exemptions from the physical education graduation requirement.

Assistant Superintendent Elena Kreiner Wilson and Monica Martin, Director of Guidance and Counseling, presented proposed edits to Regulation 51.27. The revisions add courses of study that may qualify a student for an exemption, including enrollment in military science, marching band, participation in district‑sponsored interscholastic athletics, drill team, dance groups or cheer squads completed in good standing, and participation in qualifying competitive club or individual sports. The update removes outdated language limiting students to one credit in certain areas and clarifies how families and schools can determine which club activities qualify for an exemption.

Trustees discussed program equivalency questions and implementation. Trustee Baron asked whether folklorico (ballet folklórico) would count for exemption; staff said folklorico counts for physical-education credit but is not an exemption (i.e., it is a PE class credit rather than an exemption). Trustees were also told that counselors — not registers — handle exemption requests and that the process is a student/counselor conversation during schedule planning.

The board moved, seconded and approved the notice of intent to amend Regulation 51.27 by a 7-0 vote. The approved language aligns district regulation with the Nevada Department of Education guidance (NAC changes) and sets the framework for how exemptions will be documented.