SF 2041 (LSB 5506XS (4) 88)

SENATE FILE 2041

BY  MATHIS, HOGG, BISIGNANO, T. TAYLOR, JOCHUM, ZAUN, CELSI, BOLKCOM, PETERSEN, J. SMITH, GIDDENS, and BOULTON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the physical education participation requirement for high school students under the educational standards. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph g, subparagraph (1), Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph division:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH DIVISION.  (c)  Show choir, if the student’s participation per week in show choir is at least equivalent to the per-week participation required for one-eighth unit of physical education.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph g, subparagraph (2), Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  Students in grades nine through eleven may be excused from the physical education requirement in order to enroll in academic courses not otherwise available to the student if the board of directors of the school district in which the school is located, or the authorities in charge of the school, if the school is a nonpublic school, determine that students from the school may be permitted to be excused from the physical education requirement. A student may be excused by the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled, in consultation with the student’s counselor, for up to one semester, trimester, or the equivalent of a semester or trimester, per year if the parent or guardian of the student requests in writing that the student be excused from the physical education requirement. The student seeking to be excused from the physical education requirement must, at some time during the period for which the excuse is sought, be a participant in show choir, or in an organized and supervised athletic program, which requires at least as much time of participation per week as one-eighth unit of physical education.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256.11, subsection 6, paragraph b, subparagraph (2), Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  All physically able students in grades six through twelve shall be required to engage in a physical activity for a minimum of one hundred twenty minutes per week. A student participating in an organized and supervised athletic program, show choir, or non-school-sponsored extracurricular activity which requires the student to participate in physical activity for a minimum of one hundred twenty minutes per week is exempt from the requirements of this subparagraph.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill permits a high school principal to excuse a high school student from the physical education requirements under the educational standards of Code section 256.11 if the student is participating in show choir for at least the equivalent amount of time as is required for one-eighth unit of physical education. The bill also exempts from physical activity requirements middle school and high school students who participate in show choir. 
   For a student in grades 9 through 11, the student must be seeking the excuse in order to enroll in academic courses not otherwise available to the student, the principal must consult with the student’s counselor, and the student can only be excused for one semester, or the equivalent, per school year. 
   For a student in grade 12, the student may be excused for two semesters or the equivalent.