State policy does not specify a number of students per class or teacher-to-student ratio in physical education classes.
The physical education curriculum follows a developmental sequence, including areas such as body movement, aquatics, gymnastics, individual and team sports, and fitness testing (5 CCR §10060). Programs must ensure instructional quality, physical activity engagement, and compliance with the Physical Education Framework adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). The SBE’s physical education standards and curriculum framework provide guidance and are not mandatory (Ed. Code §60605.2) unless a Local Education Agency (LEA) adopts the alternate-term physical education schedule under Ed. Code §51222(c).
Exemptions with accommodations for credit from physical education are permitted for students with injury or illness (CA Educ. Code §51241, §51242). Temporary exemptions for injuries and two-year permanent exemptions for Grades 10-12 or students age 16 years or older are also allowed upon meeting standards in five of six categories for the state fitness test. Students may also be exempt from physical education if enrolled in a juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp school where pupils are scheduled for recreation and exercise pursuant to the requirements of Article 24 (commencing with Section 880 of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code).
Daily recess periods are encouraged for elementary students to provide supervised but unstructured physical activity (CA Educ. Code §33350). Weather-related modifications to outdoor physical activities are required under standardized state protocols by no later than July 1, 2026 (CA Educ. Code §33355).
The state mandates physical fitness testing for students in Grades 5, 7, and 9 through the California Physical Fitness Test, which assesses aerobic capacity and other health indicators (CA Educ. Code §60800). Results must be included in the school accountability report card.
Physical education facilities must meet safety and accessibility standards, with sufficient teaching stations and equipment for active participation during class (5 CCR §10060[h]-[i]). Adaptations for students with disabilities must comply with state and federal guidelines.
Although online physical education courses are not explicitly prohibited, all programs must adhere to state instructional standards, including physical performance testing (CA Educ. Code §60800). The courses must align with the Physical Education Framework’s developmental sequence.
State education code encourages, but does not require, physical education to be taught by a credentialed physical education specialist teacher in Grades 1–6. Professional development is also encouraged but not required for teachers in Grades 1–6 (CA Educ. Code §51210.2). Physical education teachers must hold valid teaching credentials and specialized authorizations for adapted physical education (APE) when working with students with exceptional needs (5 CCR §80046.1).
APE must be provided for students unable to participate in regular physical education due to disabilities, with individualized instruction tailored to their needs (5 CCR §3051.5). Programs must ensure equal participation opportunities regardless of gender or other factors (CA Educ. Code §33352[b][8]).
The state provides limited reimbursement for mandated physical education-related costs, with additional funding potentially available through local grants. Some recent enactments (e.g., AB 2377, SB 1248) include standard reimbursement clauses that apply only if the Commission on State Mandates determines state-mandated costs.
Schools may post summaries of nutrition and physical activity laws and align wellness initiatives with the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (CA Educ. Code §49432). Policies should integrate physical education into broader wellness goals.
All California teachers, regardless of content area taught, are evaluated based on their ability to deliver standards-based instruction and engage students in developmentally appropriate activity (Stull Act, 98-TC-25).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to LEAs through mandated instructional minutes, curriculum standards, and graduation requirements. Although the regulations include general accountability provisions such as course-of-study reviews and audit processes, the state relies primarily on existing educational compliance frameworks rather than physical education–specific enforcement mechanisms (The State’s Role in Physical Education, https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4931).
Recent updates require weather-related protocols for physical activities during extreme conditions and expanded adaptations for students engaged in religious fasting (CA Educ. Code §33355; §51240.5). Alternate term schedules for physical education instruction are authorized for flexibility (CA Educ. Code §51222[c]). The Body Composition component and the Body Composition Healthy Fitness Zone were suspended for school year 2021/2022 and LEAs were not required to report these data in school year 2022/2023 (CA Senate Bill 820, Section 68, Chapter 110).
For more details, contact the California Department of Education at 1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or visit www.cde.ca.gov.