Florida Statutes 1003.455 – Physical education; assessment
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(1) It is the responsibility of each district school board to develop a physical education program that stresses physical fitness and encourages healthful, active lifestyles and to encourage all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 to participate in physical education. Physical education shall consist of physical activities of at least a moderate intensity level and for a duration sufficient to provide a significant health benefit to students, subject to the differing capabilities of students. All physical education programs and curricula must be reviewed by a certified physical education instructor.
(2) Each district school board shall adopt a written physical education policy that details the school district’s physical education program, the expected program outcomes, the benefits of physical education, and the availability of one-on-one counseling concerning the benefits of physical education.
(3) Each district school board shall provide 150 minutes of physical education each week for students in kindergarten through grade 5 and for students in grade 6 who are enrolled in a school that contains one or more elementary grades so that on any day during which physical education instruction is conducted there are at least 30 consecutive minutes per day. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, the equivalent of one class period per day of physical education for one semester of each year is required for students enrolled in grades 6 through 8. Students enrolled in such instruction shall be reported through the periodic student membership surveys, and records of such enrollment shall be audited pursuant to s. 1010.305. Such instruction may be provided by any instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2), regardless of certification, who are designated by the school principal.
(4) The requirement in subsection (3) shall be waived for a student who meets one of the following criteria:
(a) The student is enrolled or required to enroll in a remedial course.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 1003.455
- District school board: means the members who are elected by the voters of a school district created and existing pursuant to Florida Statutes 1003.01
- Physical education: means the development or maintenance of skills related to strength, agility, flexibility, movement, and stamina, including dance; the development of knowledge and skills regarding teamwork and fair play; the development of knowledge and skills regarding nutrition and physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle; and the development of positive attitudes regarding sound nutrition and physical activity as a component of personal well-being. See Florida Statutes 1003.01
- Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
- School: means an organization of students for instructional purposes on an elementary, middle or junior high school, secondary or high school, or other public school level authorized under rules of the State Board of Education. See Florida Statutes 1003.01
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) The student’s parent indicates in writing to the school that:
1. The parent requests that the student enroll in another course from among those courses offered as options by the school district; or
2. The student is participating in physical activities outside the school day which are equal to or in excess of the mandated requirement.
(5) Each school district shall notify the student’s parent of the options available under subsection (4) before scheduling the student to participate in physical education.
(6) In addition to the requirements in subsection (3), each district school board shall provide at least 100 minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week for students in kindergarten through grade 5 so that there are at least 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day. This requirement does not apply to charter schools.