Outline of the state of Iowa
State
Iowa
Required

Category
Physical Activity Throughout the Day

Category
Physical Activity Throughout the Day

State law requires physical activity incorporated throughout the school day (e.g., classroom breaks, time for physical activity).

Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.5 Education program.

*12.5(19)* Physical activity requirement.* Subject to the provisions of subrule 12.5(6), physically able pupils in kindergarten through grade 5 shall engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes each school day. Subject to the provisions of subrule 12.5(6), physically able pupils in grades 6 through 12 shall engage in physical activity for a minimum of 120 minutes per week in which there are at least five days of school.

Policy Type
Regulation

Iowa Code 256.11 Educational Standard.

  • (1) All physically able students in kindergarten through grade five shall be required to engage in a physical activity for a minimum of thirty minutes per school day.
    • (2) All physically able students in grades six through twelve shall be required to engage in a physical activity for a minimum of one hundred twenty minutes per week. A student participating in an organized and supervised athletic program or non-school-sponsored extracurricular activity which requires the student to participate in physical activity for a minimum of one hundred twenty minutes per week is exempt from the requirements of this subparagraph.
    • (3) The department shall collaborate with stakeholders on the development of daily physical activity requirements and the development of models that describe ways in which school districts and schools may incorporate the physical activity requirement of this paragraph into the educational program. A school district or accredited nonpublic school shall not reduce instructional time for academic courses in order to meet the requirements of this paragraph.
Policy Type
Statute

Physical Education and High School Programs - Reminder on Five Issues Relating to Compliance

The “physical activity” requirement is a part of the accreditation Standard. It is not a graduation requirement. Schools and school districts must maintain documentation to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. Id. r. 281— 12.5(19)“d”

Policy Type
Non-codified