Physical education classes have a teacher-to-student ratio similar to other classes according to HIDOE Wellness Guidelines.
Physical education programs are required to address motor skills, physical fitness, and lifetime activity participation. The Hawai’i State BOE mandates instruction aligned with state standards through the implementation of Department of Education guidelines in compliance with the federal Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Haw. Code R. § 8-60-2).
Exemptions, waivers, or substitutions for physical education are not clearly specified in the regulations, but BOE Policy 102-15 allows proficiency-based equivalents for required courses.
Schools provide 20 minutes or more per day of recess, regular activity breaks, and do not use or withhold physical activity (e.g., recess or physical education) as a negative consequence, in accordance with the HIDOE Wellness Guidelines.
Physical education in Grades 5, 7, and 9 includes a health-related student fitness assessment (e.g., FitnessGram), in compliance with the HIDOE Wellness Guidelines.
School facilities must be well-maintained and safe to promote physical education and recreational activities. General school health/safety rules (HAR 11–502) on asbestos in school buildings, including gymnasiums, apply.
No references to online physical education courses or virtual physical education alternatives are present in regulations.
Physical education teachers must meet Hawai’i’s state certification standards. Licensure is issued by the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board (HTSB; Haw. Code R. § 8-60-2).
Adapted physical education is mandated for students with disabilities as part of their IEP or Section 504 plan to ensure equitable access to physical education programs. Schools are required to provide individualized instruction and services as needed (Haw. Code R. § 8-60-2).
No specific funding mechanisms for physical education programs are referenced in state regulations. The Department of Education oversees compliance and general program implementation to support student wellness.
Schools are encouraged to adopt wellness policies to promote health education in accordance with federal regulation (7 C.F.R. §210.31), including triennial assessments, school wellness committees, and physical education.
No specific requirements for evaluating physical education teachers were identified.
The Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, established in 2023, coordinates active transportation to schools statewide (HRS §291 C-6).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to Local Education Agencies through curriculum standards and graduation requirements. The regulations include enforcement provisions such as state-monitored school wellness policies and Department of Education oversight. They do not include specific penalties for noncompliance.
For more details, call the Hawai’i Department of Education at (808) 586–3230, email doeinfo@k12.hi.us, or go to 1390 Miller Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.