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Must Health and Physical Education Be Taught in Minnesota Schools?
Mary Thissen-Milder, PhD
Health and Physical Education
Minnesota Department of Education
YES!!!
The Compulsory Instruction law
(MS 120A.22) establishes the requirements for physical education and
health instruction. However, the law that repealed the Profile of
Learning (MS 122B.19) speaks only of physical education and health as
�elective� standards for students in high school. The effect of these
two laws is the following:
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Physical education and health instruction must be provided to
students ages 7-16 and students in kindergarten (and students must
receive this instruction).
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Districts must establish local standards in physical education and
health that are delivered as part of this instruction.
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Instruction in these areas
must be delivered by physical education or health education teachers
who are certified, licensed or endorsed in those areas by the state
of Minnesota.
In addition, precedence has
established the following:
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Physical education must be taught at all grade levels at the
elementary, middle/junior high levels and at least once during high
school.
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Health education must be taught by either grade level or grade band,
at the elementary, middle/junior high levels, and at least once
during high school, as determined by the local school district.
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For high school, state law
requires that students take a minimum of eight elective course
credits, including at least one credit in the arts. The school
district has the authority to determine whether health and/or
physical education credit is required for graduation from the
remaining seven elective credits.
Background
Historically, health and
physical education have been required subjects in the state of
Minnesota. Since 1959, the Compulsory Instruction law (MS 120A.22) has
identified health and physical education in its list of required
subjects. In 2003, the law that repealed the Profile of Learning (MS
122B.19) caused some confusion regarding whether health and physical
education were still required.
In 2003, however, the law that
repealed the Profile of Learning also classified physical education
and health as �elective� rather than �required� standards. World
languages, along with vocational and technical education, also became
�elective standards.� But the Compulsory Instruction law requires
students between 7-16 years to receive instruction in physical
education and health.
The extent of instruction in physical education and health education
needs to be determined locally. There is no state law or rule that
specifies the extent or time districts must follow when complying with
the Compulsory Instruction law. |
