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Lodi Unified School District

Policy 6142.7 - Physical Education & Activity

Series: 6000 - Instruction

Policy: 6142.7 - Physical Education & Activity

Adopted: 12/08/1998

Last Revised: 09/01/2026

Last Reviewed: 09/01/2026

Download Policy 6142.7 - Physical Education & Activity PDF (English)

Download Rule 6142.7 - Physical Education & Activity PDF (English)

Physical Education & Activity

The Board of Education recognizes the positive benefits of physical activity for student well-being  and academic achievement. The district shall provide all students the opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis through high-quality physical education instruction and may provide additional opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. The district's physical education and activity programs shall support the district's coordinated student wellness program and encourage students' lifelong health and fitness.
 
Physical education classes shall be conducted in a coeducational, inclusive manner in accordance with law. The district shall provide instruction in physical education that provides equal access and equal opportunities for participation for all students in grades 1-12 regardless of gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or any other protected status in accordance with Board Policy/Rule 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment. 
 
The district's physical education program shall provide a developmentally appropriate sequence of instruction aligned with the state's model content standards and curriculum framework.
 
The district's physical education program shall engage students in age-appropriate moderate to vigorous physical activity, as defined in the accompanying Board rule, including aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening activities. The Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies to monitor the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity that takes place in the physical education instructional program.
 
For grades 9-12, the overall course of study shall include the effects of physical activity upon dynamic health, the mechanics of body movement, aquatics, gymnastics and tumbling, individual and dual sports, rhythms and dance, team sports, and combatives. 
 
The Board shall approve the courses in grades 9-12 for which physical education credit may be granted.
 
Students with disabilities shall be provided instruction in physical education in accordance with their individualized education program or Section 504 accommodation plan.
 
Upon written notification from a student's parent/guardian, or from the student if age 18 years of age or older, stating that the student is participating in religious fasting, the principal or designee shall grant a student an accommodation in connection with any physical activity component of a physical education course during the period of religious fasting. The student shall be provided alternative assignments or activities for the period the student is granted an accommodation. 
 
The Superintendent or designee shall develop, adopt, and implement weather protocols that incorporate the standardized guidelines compiled by the California Department of Education and that include specific measures to be taken during extreme weather conditions. The adopted weather protocols shall be regularly reviewed, evaluated, and if necessary, updated in accordance with law. 
 
During air pollution episodes, extreme weather, or other inclement conditions, physical education staff shall make appropriate adjustments to the program in accordance with the district's extreme weather protocols and/or shall seek alternative indoor space to enable students to participate in active physical education.
 
The Superintendent or designee may offer an alternate term schedule for grades 6-12 physical education courses in accordance with Education Code 51222 as specified in the accompanying Board rule.
 
Staffing
Physical education instruction shall be delivered by appropriately credentialed teachers who may be assisted by paraprofessionals, and/or volunteers. 
 
The district shall provide physical education teachers with continuing professional development, including classroom management and instructional strategies designed to keep students engaged and active and to enhance the quality of physical education instruction and assessment.
 
Physical Fitness Testing
The Superintendent or designee shall annually administer the physical fitness test designated by the State Board of Education to students in grades 5, 7, and 9.
 
Temporary Exemptions
The Superintendent or designee may grant a temporary exemption from physical education under either of the following conditions:
 
  1. The student is ill or injured and a modified program to meet the students’ needs cannot be provided
     
  2. The student is enrolled for one-half time or less
Two-Year Exemption
With a student’s consent, the Superintendent or designee may exempt a student from physical education courses for any two years during grades 10-12 provided that the student has satisfactorily met any five of the six standards of the FITNESSGRAM in grade 9. 
 
Upon request by students and/or their parents/guardians, the Superintendent or designee may administer the FITNESSGRAM to students in grades 10-12 who need to pass the test in order to qualify for a two-year exemption from physical education courses.
 
Students in grades 10-12 who have been granted a two-year exemption shall be offered a variety of elective physical education courses of not less than 400 minutes each 10 school days. 
 
Such students shall not be permitted to attend fewer total hours of courses and classes than they would have attended if enrolled in a physical education course. 
 
Permanent Exemption
The Superintendent or designee may grant a student a permanent exemption from physical education under any of the following conditions:
                                                           
  1. The student is age 16 years or older and has been in grade 10 for one or more academic years
     
  2. The student is enrolled as a postgraduate student
     
  3. The student is enrolled in a juvenile home, ranch, camp or forestry camp school with scheduled recreation and exercise

    Students who have been granted a permanent exemption shall be offered a variety of elective physical education courses of not less than 400 minutes each 10 school days.
 
Other Exemptions
The Superintendent or designee may grant an exemption from physical education under the following special circumstances:
 
  1. When the student in grades 10-12, is excused for up to 24 clock hours in order to participate in automobile driver training. However, any such student shall attend a minimum of 7,000 minutes of physical education instruction during the school year.
     
  2. When the student in any of the grades 10-12, attends a regional occupational center or program, and, because of the travel time involved, would experience hardship to attend physical education courses. Any such student shall have a minimum school day of 180 minutes.
     
  3. When the student is in high school and is engaged in a regular school-sponsored interscholastic athletic program carried on wholly or partially after regular school hours.

Rule 6142.7

Adopted: 09/07/2010
Last Revised: 09/08/2026
Last Reviewed: 09/08/2026

Definitions
Extreme weather conditions are occurrences of unusually severe weather conditions, including, but not limited to, periods of extreme heat, excessive precipitation, and floods, that may pose significant harm to students.
 
Moderate physical activity is any activity which generally requires sustained, rhythmic movements and refers to a level of effort a healthy individual might expend while, for example, walking briskly, dancing, swimming, or bicycling on level terrain.  A person should feel some exertion but should be able to carry on a conversation comfortably during the activity.
 
Physical activity is bodily movement that is produced by the contraction of skeletal muscle and that substantially increases energy expenditure, including exercise, sport, dance, and other movement forms.
 
Physical education is a sequential educational program that teaches students to understand and participate in regular physical activity that assists in developing and maintaining physical fitness throughout their lifetime, understand and improve their motor skills, enjoy using their skills and knowledge to establish a healthy lifestyle, and understand how their bodies work.
 
Vigorous physical activity is any activity which generally requires sustained, rhythmic movements and refers to a level of effort a healthy individual might expend while, for example, jogging, participating in high-impact aerobic dancing, swimming continuous laps, or bicycling uphill. Vigorous physical activity may be intense enough to result in a significant increase in heart and respiration rate.
 
Instructional Time
Instruction in physical education shall be provided for at least the following minimum period of time:
 
  1. For students in grades 1-6, 200 minutes each 10 school days, exclusive of recess and the lunch period
     
  2. For students in grades 7-8 attending an elementary school, 200 minutes each 10 school days, exclusive of recess and the lunch period
     
  3. For students in grades 7-8 attending a middle school or junior high school, 400 minutes each 10 school days
     
  4. For students in grades 9-12, 400 minutes each 10 school days
An alternate term schedule may be provided for physical education courses in grades 6-12, if the following conditions are met: 
 
  1. For students in grade 6 to receive no less than 400 minutes of instruction each 10 school days for a semester of not fewer than 18 weeks during the regular school year, for a total of 3,600 instructional minutes for the school year
     
  2. For students in grades 7-12 to receive no less than 800 minutes of instruction every 10 school days for a semester of not fewer than 18 weeks during the regular school year, for a total of 7,200 instructional minutes for the school year
     
  3. The physical education program is aligned with the physical education framework adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) in that it provides a sequential, articulated, age-appropriate program
     
  4. The physical education program complies with the course of study requirements of high school physical education programs, as applicable
     
  5. Students are prepared for, and participate in, the physical performance testing as specified in Education Code 60800
If the instructional minute requirement cannot be met during any 10-day period due to inclement weather, a school assembly, field trip, student assessment, or other circumstance, the school shall make up those minutes on another day in order to satisfy the instructional minute requirement.
 
The Superintendent or designee shall determine a method to document compliance with the required number of instructional minutes. Such documentation may include, but not be limited to, a master schedule, bell schedule, weekly schedule for each teacher providing physical education instruction, district calendar, teacher roster, or log for staff or students to record the number of physical education minutes completed.
 
Any complaint alleging noncompliance with the instructional minute requirement may be filed in accordance with the district's procedures in Board Rule 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. A complainant not satisfied with the district's decision may appeal the decision to the California Department of Education (CDE). If the district or CDE finds merit in a complaint, the district shall provide a remedy to all affected students and parents/guardians. 
 
Monitoring Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity
To monitor the amount of time students are engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity, the Superintendent or designee may:
 
  1. Develop methods to estimate the amount of time students spend in moderate to vigorous physical activity and the amount of time students are inactive during physical education classes
     
  2. Provide physical education teachers with staff development, self-monitoring tools, stopwatches, and/or heart rate monitors to assist them in planning and assessing the level of activity in their classes
Physical Fitness Testing
During the annual assessment window between the months of February through May, students in grades 5, 7, and 9 shall be administered the physical fitness test designated by the State Board of Education (FITNESSGRAM).
 
The Superintendent or designee may provide a make-up date for students who are unable to take the test based on absence or temporary physical restriction or limitations, such as students recovering from illness or injury. 
 
On or before November 1 of each school year, the Superintendent may designate an employee to serve as the district's physical fitness test coordinator and so notify the test contractor. The test coordinator shall serve as the liaison between the district and CDE for all matters related to the physical fitness test. The duties of the test coordinator shall include, but are not limited to:
 
  1. Responding to correspondence and inquiries from the contractor in a timely manner and as provided in the contractor's instructions
     
  2. Determining district and school site test and test material needs
     
  3. Overseeing the administration of the physical fitness test to students
     
  4. Ensuring that all test data are received from school test sites in sufficient time to satisfy the reporting requirements
Students shall be provided with their individual results after completing the FITNESSGRAM. The test results may be provided in writing or orally as the student completes the testing and shall be included in the student’s cumulative record.
 
Each student's test results shall also be provided to the student's parents/guardians.
 
The Superintendent or designee shall report the aggregate results of the FITNESSGRAM in the annual school accountability report card required by Education Code 33126 and 35256.
 
Testing Variations
All students may be administered the FITNESSGRAM with the following test variations:
 
  1. Extra time within a testing day
     
  2. Test directions that are simplified or clarified
All students may have the following test variations if they are regularly used in the classroom:
 
  1. Audio amplification equipment
     
  2. Separate testing for individual students provided that the student(s) are directly supervised by the test examiner
     
  3. Manually Coded English or American Sign Language to present directions for test administration
Students with a physical disability and students who are physically unable to take all of the test shall undergo as much of the test as their physical condition will permit. 
 
Students with disabilities may be provided the following accommodations if specified in their individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan:
 
  1. Administration of the test at the most beneficial time of day to the student after consultation with the test contractor
     
  2. Administration of the test by a test examiner to the student at home or in the hospital
     
  3. Any other accommodation specified in the student's IEP or Section 504 plan for the physical fitness test
Identified English learners may be allowed the following additional test variations if regularly used in the classroom: 
 
  1. Separate testing with other English learners, provided that the student(s) are directly supervised by the test examiner
     
  2. Test directions translated into their primary language, and the opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the test directions in their primary language
Additional Opportunities for Physical Activity
The Superintendent or designee may implement strategies for increasing opportunities for physical activity outside the physical education program, which may include, but not be limited to:
 
  1. Training recess, lunch, and before- and after-school supervisors on methods to engage students in moderate to vigorous physical activity
     
  2. Encouraging teachers to incorporate physical activity into the classroom
     
  3. Establishing extracurricular activities that promote physical activity, such as school clubs, intramural athletic programs, dance performances, community service, special events, and competitions
     
  4. Incorporating opportunities for physical activity into before- or after-school programs and/or child care and development programs
     
  5. Exploring opportunities for joint use of facilities or grounds in order to provide adequate space for students and community members to engage in recreational activities
     
  6. Developing business partnerships to maximize resources for physical activity equipment and programs
     
  7. Developing programs to encourage and facilitate walking, bicycling, or other active transport to and from school

Legal Reference

Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy.  Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
 
STATE
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
5 CCR 10060 Criteria for high school physical education programs
5 CCR 1040-1043.10 Physical performance test
5 CCR 1047-1048 Testing variations and accommodations
5 CCR 3051.5 Adapted physical education for individuals with exceptional needs
5 CCR 4600-4670 Uniform complaint procedures
5 CCR 4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary educational programs receiving state or federal financial assistance
5 CCR 80020 Additional assignment authorizations for specific credentials
5 CCR 80037 Designated subjects teaching credential; special teaching authorization in physical education
5 CCR 80046.1 Added authorization to teach adapted physical education
EDUCATION CODE
220 Prohibition of discrimination
221.5 Equal opportunity
33126 School accountability report card
33350-33355 CDE responsibilities regarding physical education
35256 School Accountability Report Card
44250-44277 Credentials and assignment of teachers
49062 Student records
49066 Grades; change of grade; physical education grade
51210 Course of study for grades 1-6
51220 Course of study for grades 7-12
51222 Physical education; instructional minutes
51223 Physical education; elementary schools
51225.3 High school graduation requirements
51240.5 Physical education; accommodation for religious fasting
51241 Temporary two-year or permanent exemption from physical education
51242 Exemption from physical education for athletic program participants
52316 Excuse from attending physical education classes; regional occupational center/program
60800 Physical performance test
FEDERAL
UNITED STATES CODE
29 USC 794 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 504
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
34 CFR 106.33 Nondiscrimination on the basis of sex; comparable facilities
34 CFR 106.34 Nondiscrimination on the basis of sex; access to classes and schools
34 CFR 300.108 Assistance to states for the education of children with disabilities; physical education
UNITED STATES CODE
42 USC 1758b Local wellness policy
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION        
53 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 230 (1970)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12, 2009
Physical Education Model Content Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12, January 2005
CDC PUBLICATIONS
School Health Index (SHI): A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide, Middle/High School, 2017
School Health Index (SHI): A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide, Elementary School, 2017
COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING PUBLICATION
The Administrator's Assignment Manual, 2019
COURT DECISION
Doe v. Albany Unified School District (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 668
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Active Bodies, Active Minds: Physical Activity and Academic Achievement, Fact Sheet, February 2010
Maximizing Opportunities for Physical Activity During the School Day, Fact Sheet, November 2009
Maximizing Opportunities for Physical Activity Through Joint Use of Facilities, Policy Brief, February 2010
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Physical Education to Improve Health and Academic Outcomes, Fact Sheet, November 2009
Monitoring for Success: A Guide for Assessing and Strengthening Student Wellness Policies, rev. 2012
Physical Education and California Schools, Policy Brief, October 2007
Student Wellness: A Healthy Food and Physical Activity Policy Resource Guide, 2012
U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATION
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition, October 2018
WEBSITES
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/#
California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition) http://www.californiaprojectlean.org/
Healthy People 2010 http://www.healthypeople.gov/
President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition http://www.fitness.gov/
National Association for Sport and Physical Education https://www.pgpedia.com/n/national-association-sport-and-physical-education
Commission on Teacher Credentialing http://www.ctc.ca.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ 
California Department of Education http://www.cde.ca.gov/