PE Exemption

 

All students desiring an exemption from physical education must complete this PE Exemption Form, including reason for exemption request, and have the form signed and approved by an administrator. 

Frequently Asked Exemption Questions:

1. How often should high school students be participating in physical education courses?

“All pupils, except pupils excused or exempted pursuant to Section 51241, shall be required to attend upon the courses of physical education for a total period of time of not less than 400 minutes each 10 schooldays.” [California Education Code (EC) Section 51222 (a)]

All students in grades seven to twelve inclusive must participate in physical education courses unless the pupil is excused from participation in accordance with the exceptions in EC sections 51222(a), 51241, or 51242.

2. What are the state high school graduation physical education course requirements?

All students are required to complete two years of physical education in order to be eligible to graduate from high school, unless the pupil has been exempted pursuant to the provision of the California Education Code (EC). (EC Section 51225.3 [a][1][F])

Local education agencies (LEAs) may require more than two years of physical education for high school students to graduate. (EC Section 51225.3 [a][1])

3. What are the three distinct and separate exemptions available under California Education Code (EC) Section 51241. Each exemption is described below?

Temporary:

“The governing board of a school district or the office of the county superintendent of schools of a county may grant temporary exemption to a pupil from courses in physical education, if the pupil is one of the following: 

(1) Ill or injured and a modified program to meet the needs of the pupil cannot be provided. 

(2) Enrolled for one-half, or less, of the work normally required of full-time pupils.” (EC Section 51241 [a][1][2])*

Two-year:

“The governing board of a school district or the office of the county superintendent of schools of a county, with the consent of a pupil, may grant a pupil an exemption from courses in physical education for two years any time during grades ten to twelve, inclusive, if the pupil has met satisfactorily any five of the six standards of the physical performance test administered in grade nine pursuant to Section 60800.” (EC Section 51241 [b][1])

Note that the standards are found on the PFT Administrative Documents Web page [FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness Zones (HFZ)].

Permanent:

“The governing board of a school district or the office of the county superintendent of a county may grantpermanent exemption from courses in physical education if the pupil complies with any one of the following: 

(1) Is sixteen years of age or older and has been enrolled in the 10th grade for one academic year or longer. 

(2) Is enrolled as a postgraduate pupil. 

(3) Is enrolled in a juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp school where pupils are scheduled for recreation and exercise pursuant to the requirements of Section 4346 of Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.” (EC Section 51241 [c][1][2][3])

4. What physical education courses shall be available for high school students who have been exempted from two years of physical education?

“The governing board of each school district that maintains a high school and that elects to exempt pupils from required attendance in physical education courses pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) or both of subdivision (b) of Section 51241 shall offer those pupils so exempted a variety of elective physical education courses of not less than 400 minutes each 10 schooldays.” (California Education Code sections 33352[b][7], 51220 [d], and 51222 [b])*

5. Who can exempt a student from physical education?

The governing board of a school district or the office of the county superintendent of schools may grant exemptions to pupils from courses in physical education if the pupil consents to such an exemption. (California Education Code sections 51241, 51242, and 51246)

6. How should school districts define “passed” in order to determine if their high school students can qualify for the two-year exemption?

Senate Bill 601 (Chaptered October 14, 2007) amended California Education Code Section 51241 [b][1]. This amendment defined “passed” for purposes of the two-year exemption from high school physical education courses as “met satisfactorily any five of the six standards of the physical performance test administered in grade nine pursuant to Section 60800.”*

7. If a school district requires two years of physical education credits for the high school graduation requirements, has the district essentially invoked the two-year physical education exemption?

No. Exemptions may be granted to a pupil with the pupil’s consent only if the requirements set forth in California Education Code (EC) sections 51222(a), 51241, or 51242 are met. The district is required to offer courses in physical education to those students who do not qualify for an exemption or do not consent to an exemption. (EC sections 51220 and 51222)

Districts must continue to offer students who are exempted under relevant EC, a variety of elective physical education courses for no less than 400 minutes every 10 school days. (EC sections 33352[b][6] and 51222[b])

*Temporary Exemptions are on hold right now until further notice.