Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 19 - Division of Academic Accountability ***
Rule 005.19.11-004 - ADE 206: Physical Education Course Credit for Organized Physical Activity Courses

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 005.19.11-004

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

1.00 REGULATORY AUTHORITY

1.01 The State Board of Education enacts these rules pursuant to its authority as set forth in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-11-105, 6-16-137, 6-16-141, and 25-15-201 et seq.

2.00 DEFINITIONS

For purposes of these rules, the following terms shall mean:

2.01 "Content standards" means those curriculum course content standards identified and set out in the Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks. The term also includes any content standards developed under the Common Core State Standards and approved by the Department of Education.

2.02 "Curriculum frameworks" means those content-specific requirements identified and mandated pursuant to § 6-15-1502 et seq. and the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts. The term also includes any curriculum frameworks developed under the Common Core State Standards and approved by the Department of Education.

2.03 "Master schedule" means the official class schedule as required for students and staff in a specific Local Education Agency (LEA) location.

2.04 "Organized physical activity course" means a school course taught by an instructor who is licensed or qualified in physical education pursuant to the rules of the State Board of Education and is a course that involves body movement produced by skeletal muscles resulting in energy expenditures through organized group or class activities.

2.05 "Qualified physical education instructor" means a person licensed to teach secondary physical education by the Arkansas Department of Education or those persons who hold the appropriate licensure to teach a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) high school course as approved by the Arkansas Department of Career Education.

2.06 "Statement of assurance" means a written statement to be filed by the superintendent or chief academic officer by October 1 of each year with the Department of Education which ensures that the organized physical activity course is in compliance with the physical education course content standards and curriculum frameworks as required pursuant to § 6-15-1505 and the requirements of § 6-16-137(b)(2).

3.00 ELIGIBILITY

3.01 A student in grades nine through twelve (9-12) who participates in and successfully completes an organized physical activity course in his or her school shall be eligible to receive one-half (1/2) unit of physical education credit required for graduation if:
3.01.1 The organized physical activity course is aligned to the Department of Education's physical education course content standards and curriculum frameworks; and

3.01.2 The organized physical activity course is verified by the superintendent of the school district or the chief administrative officer of an open-enrollment charter school who files a written statement of assurance with the Department of Education by October 1 of the school year as required by § 6-15-1505 stating that:
3.01.2.1 The instructor of the organized physical activity course is licensed or qualified in physical education pursuant to the rules of the State Board of Education;

3.01.2.2 The organized physical activity course is aligned to the Department of Education's physical education course content standards and curriculum frameworks; and

3.01.2.3 The organized physical activity course is subject to the provisions of § 6-18-501 et seq.

3.02 The organized physical activity course shall take place during the regular school day to qualify for physical education credit, except for those organized physical activity courses outside the regular school day that are listed on the district's master schedule.

4.00 GRADUATION CREDIT

4.01 A student is limited to only the one-half (1/2) unit of physical education credit for graduation for the organized physical activity course, and the student shall not be allowed any other credit toward graduation for that same course.

4.02 A student must complete the entire semester and pass the physical activity course to receive the one-half (1/2) unit of physical education credit required for graduation.

5.00 MONITORING

5.01 The Department of Education is authorized to monitor, review documentation, request information, or require additional reports from public schools, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, or school personnel in order to enforce compliance with this rule.

6.00 SANCTIONS

6.01 If it is determined by the Department of Education that any organized physical activity course allowed to be used for physical education credit by a student does not meet the Department of Education's physical education course content standards and curriculum frameworks, the school district or open-enrollment charter school may be cited or placed in probationary violation of the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts.

6.02 If it is determined by the Department of Education that a superintendent or chief academic officer or any other certified personnel has knowingly provided false or misleading information in the statement of assurance required pursuant to § 6-16-137 and these rules, the State Board of Education may take appropriate action on the license of that individual pursuant to § 6-17-410. The Commissioner of Education, at his or her discretion, may also refer the superintendent or chief academic officer to the Professional Licensure Standards Board.

7.00 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COURSES NOT REQUIRED FOR ADEQUATE EDUCATION

Notwithstanding the provisions of these rules, it is recognized by the General Assembly and the State Board of Education that organized physical activity courses as set forth in these rules are not a requirement for an adequate education and shall not be construed a core academic requirement of the State of Arkansas or of public school districts.

8.00 CREDIT FOR COMPLETING JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS

A student who completes two (2) semesters of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program shall receive credit for both of the following requirements for graduation from high school:

8.01 One-half (1/2) unit of physical education; and

8.02 One-half (1/2) unit of health and safety education.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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