Title
Authorization of High School Physical Education Exemptions for Student-Athletes
Division of Instruction
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Brief Description:
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(Authorization of High School Physical Education Exemptions for Student-Athletes) Recommends approval to authorize an exemption, consistent with California Education Code Section §51242 (Attachment C), allowing eligible high school students to be exempted from physical education courses during the regular school day if they participate in a school-sponsored interscholastic athletic program conducted wholly or partially after regular school hours.
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Recommendation
Action Proposed:
Authorize an exemption from the physical education course requirement for eligible high school students participating in school-sponsored interscholastic athletic programs outside regular school hours, consistent with Education Code § 51242.
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Body
Background:
As required by Education Code Section §51222 (Attachment B), students in grades 9-12 must receive at least 400 minutes of physical education instruction every 10 school days.
Currently, District high schools offer interscholastic athletic programs during or after the school day. Because of this, students in grades 9 and 10 who participate in an after-school interscholastic sport must also take physical education during the school day. As a result, these students engage in physical activity both during and after school, particularly on practice and game days. The PE requirement also limits access to advanced or elective courses, particularly in grade 10, when students' schedules are often filled with five academic courses and physical education.
Education Code Section §51242 allows a school district's governing board to exempt a senior high school student from physical education during the school day if the student participates in a regular, school-sponsored interscholastic athletic program conducted wholly or partially after regular school hours.
Expected Outcomes:
The Board will authorize high school students who participate in an after-school interscholastic sport to be exempt from taking physical education during the school day and will delegate authority to the high school principal.
Board Options and Consequences:
The Board can approve the exemption, allowing high school students, particularly students in grades 9-10 and those under age 16, to be exempt from physical education during the school day if they participate in an after-school interscholastic sport. This would provide students with greater flexibility and access to additional coursework during the school day. Physical Education will remain available as a course for schools to offer.
The Board can choose not to approve the exemption, requiring students who participate in after-school interscholastic sports to continue taking physical education during the school day.
Policy Implications:
The decision to authorize the exemption will not change the District’s current physical education graduation requirement. Although numerical credit will not be granted for participation in athletics after the school day, students who receive this exemption will be able to count their participation towards satisfaction of the PE requirement.
Budget Impact:
If approved, implementation of the physical education exemption would require a MiSiS enhancement to document students’ eligibility for the exemption. The estimated cost is between $8,000 - $40,000.
Student Impact:
If approved, students participating in after-school interscholastic sports may choose not to take physical education during the school day, providing an opportunity to enroll in an additional elective. Eligibility for the exemption is contingent upon continued participation in the qualifying interscholastic athletic program.
Equity Impact:
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Component |
Score |
Score Rationale |
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Recognition |
4 |
The proposed policy recognizes the scheduling barriers experienced by student-athletes at schools with limited course availability, where required daytime PE may restrict access to A-G coursework, credit recovery, intervention, and other courses supporting graduation and college and career readiness. Providing eligible student-athletes with additional flexibility during the instructional day helps address these opportunity gaps while maintaining the District's PE graduation requirements. |
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Resource Prioritization |
3 |
The proposed policy provides schools with greater flexibility to use the instructional day and available staffing to meet student academic needs. Schools may use the additional scheduling flexibility to increase student access to A-G coursework, credit recovery, intervention, and other courses aligned with graduation and postsecondary readiness. |
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Results |
3 |
The proposed policy is likely to expand academic opportunities for eligible student-athletes by creating greater flexibility to enroll in A-G courses, recover credits, receive academic intervention, or pursue other courses supporting postsecondary pathways while continuing participation in school-sponsored interscholastic athletics. |
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TOTAL |
10 |
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Issues and Analysis:
Fewer physical education courses may be needed during the school day. However, the total FTE allocation would remain unchanged, as students are still required to maintain a full schedule, and the FTE would shift to other content areas to support additional course offerings.
Implementation will require procedures to verify student participation in qualifying interscholastic athletics, maintain appropriate rosters and participation records, and address students whose participation ends during the semester. Schools electing to offer the exemption will need procedures for students who are cut from a team, voluntarily discontinue participation, become ineligible, or otherwise no longer meet exemption requirements. Such students may need to be reprogrammed into a physical education course during the school day. The Division of Instruction will develop implementation guidance in collaboration with Athletics, MiSiS, Counseling, and other appropriate District offices to address this.
Attachments:
Attachment A - List of CIF Sanctioned Sports
Attachment B - Education Code 51222
Attachment C - Education Code 51242
Submitted:
10/21/26