What types of exemptions are allowed under the school rules of Iowa for Physical Education?
281 – IAC 12.4(5)f
- Grades 1-12: Religious Exemption – Physical education and health exemption. A pupil shall not be required to enroll in either physical education or health courses if the pupil’s parent or guardian files a written statement with the school principal that the course conflicts with the pupil's religious beliefs.
- Grade 12: Athletic and Academic Exemptions -- A 12th grade student may be excused from the physical education requirement by the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled under one of the following circumstances:
- The student is enrolled in a cooperative, work study, or other educational program authorized by the school which requires the student's absence from the school's premises during the school day.
- The student is enrolled in an academic course not otherwise available.
- An organized or supervised athletic program which requires at least as much participation time per week as one-eighth unit of physical education.
- Grades 9–11:
- Students in grades 9-11 may be excused from the physical education requirement 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 the 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 a 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 period during which the excuse is sought, be a participant in an organized athletic program which requires at least as much time of participation per week as one-eighth unit of physical education. The student's parent or guardian must request the excuse in writing. The principal shall inform the superintendent that the student is excused.