State policy does not specify a number of students per class or teacher-to-student ratio in physical education classes.
The physical education curriculum aligns with Utah Core Standards and must be developmentally appropriate at all grade levels. Courses emphasize participation skills, lifetime fitness, and individualized activity planning (Utah Admin. Code R277-700-6).
High school students may substitute up to 1.0 credit of physical education through approved athletic participation, replacing Participation Skills and Individualized Lifetime Activities. Additional waivers for physical education requirements are not specified (Utah Admin. Code R277-700-6[15][a]-[b]).
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) shall ensure that physical development activities include light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity for a daily total of at least 15 minutes for every two hours children spend in the program (Utah Admin. Code R381-40-18).
No explicit fitness assessment requirements for students were found in the regulations.
When physical education requires students to change clothing, shower facilities must meet health-code standards (hot/cold water, privacy showers in newer schools, cleaning/disinfection, ventilation, adjacent toilets/dressing areas; R392-200-15).
Regulations do not explicitly address the provision of online physical education. There are no direct provisions, exceptions, or enabling mechanisms in state statute or administrative rule that permit or describe online or distance learning for physical education. Implementation of online physical education is neither expressly allowed nor directly prohibited and would be at the discretion LEAs if all state standards and requirements are met.
Physical education teachers must hold a Utah teaching license with a physical education endorsement, which requires coursework or demonstrated competency as well as current CPR and first aid certification (Utah Admin. Code R277-311-4; R277- 520-4[3]; R277-309-4[3]).
An LEA may modify a student’s physical education graduation requirements to accommodate students with disabilities through an IEP. These modifications must be documented in the student’s file (Utah Admin. Code R277-700-6).
Utah allows for the issuance of revenue bonds to support physical education facility construction at higher education institutions; however, no specific funding allocations for K–12 physical education programs were found (Utah Code 53B-22-107).
No explicit regulations on local wellness policies incorporating physical activity or nutrition were found.
No specific criteria for evaluating physical education teachers were found in the regulations.
The most recent updates include details on physical education credit substitution for athletic participation and modifications for students with disabilities (Utah Admin. Code R277-700-6).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to LEAs and include indirect state oversight through general curriculum and graduation requirements. However, the regulations do not include specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties related to physical education or physical activity policy compliance.
For more details, call the Utah State Board of Education at (801) 538–7500, email education@schools.utah.gov, or go to 250 E. 500 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84111.