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Policy draft would allow permanent and two-year PE exemptions; board members raise equity concerns
Summary
The policy draft would require credentialed PE teachers, allow two-year and permanent exemptions under conditions (including a FitnessGram threshold and age/enrollment criteria), and permit substitutions for missed PE minutes; board members cautioned that some exemption language could permit broad opt-outs and asked for safeguards for English learners and students with disabilities.
HR director presented the policy companion to the regulation, noting staffing expectations (credentialed PE teachers with instructional assistants or volunteers as support) and professional development for PE staff.
On exemptions, the HR director explained: "The superintendent or designee may grant a student permanent exemption from PE under any of the following conditions. The student is 16 years or older and has been enrolled in grade 10 for 1 or more academic years." The policy also allows two-year exemptions in grades 10–12 if the student met at least five of six FitnessGram standards in ninth grade and requires that exempted students still attend the same total hours of courses as if enrolled in PE (i.e., they must be scheduled into an alternate activity).
Board members pushed back. Sam Black said, "That almost sounds like every 10th grader in the district could exempt out of PE," and asked how the district would prevent clustering all required activity into a single semester. Members also raised equity concerns for English learners and students using AAC devices who might face awkward accommodations during PE.
The HR director noted special circumstances exemptions (automobile driver training, regional occupational center travel time, interscholastic athletics) and said another section would require annual reporting on FitnessGram outcomes and exemptions. The committee did not vote on the policy.
