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District 128 launches review of PE exemption practices, aims for recommendations by April–May
Summary
The district’s Department of Teaching and Learning presented a review of PE exemption policy and differences between Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools; administrators will hold student focus groups, standardize return‑to‑class timelines and aim to deliver recommendations by April or early May, with possible implementation for the 2027 school year.
Tom from the district’s Department of Teaching and Learning told the CHSD 128 board the district has started a comprehensive review of physical education exemption policy and practices after questions were raised last fall about inconsistent implementation between the two high schools.
“Specifically, the goal of the review was to ensure that we are in full compliance with state and district policy,” Tom said, noting the state allows exemptions for ongoing participation in IHSA‑sponsored athletic programs but requires the programs be school‑sponsored. He told trustees his team found the district policy (6:310) aligns with state guidance but that Libertyville and Vernon Hills differed on how and when exempted students return to PE classes.
Tom described next steps: conducting student focus groups at Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School, aligning district‑wide return‑to‑class timelines and preparing recommendations based on policy review and peer‑district comparisons. He said the goal is to have recommendations ready for an update in April or early May, and that changes that can be implemented for next year will be considered, though changes that affect course eligibility would likely be phased in later because students have already registered for next year.
Board members pressed for specifics on return timing and scheduling conflicts (for example, how to reintegrate an exempted athlete into a semester course), and for administrative guidelines so principals make consistent exemption decisions. One trustee suggested a decision tree to ensure equitable outcomes for students across buildings. Trustees also asked about the statutory minimum for PE; administration referenced 105 ILCS 5 and clarified the state’s guidance is interpreted as a minimum of three days per five‑day week in some schedules but that districts may operate daily PE in their schedules.
The district said it will also review grade‑level eligibility (noting the district currently allows tenth graders to exempt while many peer schools restrict exemptions to eleventh and twelfth graders), communication tone to students and parents, and how 0‑hour or early‑bird options interact with exemptions and double‑period AP courses. Implementation that affects course availability will generally be slated for the 2027–28 school year to avoid disrupting students who have already registered.
What happens next: The administration will run student focus groups, draft administrative guidance for principals to ensure consistent exemption decisions across schools and present formal recommendations to the board in April or early May.
