It would require more than one hand to count the number of times the Senate Education Committee has met this session to discuss a rule that would, in part, require every elementary school to offer 60 minutes of physical education to students each week, require middle schools to provide all students with an average of 200 minutes of PE on a biweekly basis, and allow for high school students to earn one credit in PE for participating in one season of any sport recognized by the Idaho High School Activities Association or club sport recognized by the local school district.
Today, following three failed motions and a commitment by the State Department of Education to rework language in the rule that allows a student to earn a credit for taking part in a sporting activity, the Senate Education Committee concurred with an earlier House Education Committee decision to reject the portions of the rule requiring elementary and middle schools to offer a specific number of minutes of PE each week.
Assuming the rest of the legislative work based on today’s decision goes more smoothly than earlier work on the rule, before the end of this session a concurrent resolution will be approved and districts will not be required to provide a specific number of minutes of PE each week at elementary and middle schools.
