physical education instruction; public schools

HB2921 - physical education instruction; public schools

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Joseph Chaplik, Leo Biasiucci, Ralph Heap, Laurin Hendrix, Alexander Kolodin, Justin Olson, Beverly Pingerelli
Last action: 2026-01-29
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Physical Education Requirements for Arizona Public Schools

This bill requires public schools in Arizona to provide daily physical education that includes at least 60% moderate activity and covers various aspects like individual/team activities, career pathways, and lifelong fitness skills.

What This Bill Does

Requires each school district to offer daily physical education for students from kindergarten through grade twelve.
Specifies that at least 60% of the time spent in physical education must involve moderate physical activity.
Includes requirements for teaching about health careers related to fitness and sports science, as well as lifelong fitness skills.
Allows schools to provide adapted physical education for students with disabilities based on their individualized plans.

Who It Names or Affects

Public school districts in Arizona
Students from kindergarten through grade twelve

Terms To Know

Individualized Education Program (IEP): A plan developed for a student with disabilities that outlines special education services and support needed to help the student succeed.
Section 504 Plan: A plan designed to ensure students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations in school settings.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many minutes of physical activity are required for a student participating on a school-sponsored athletic team.
It is unclear what specific actions will be taken if schools do not comply with the new requirements.

Bill History

2026-01-29 House
House second read
2026-01-28 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-28 House
House Education: None
2026-01-28 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2921 - physical education instruction; public schools

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2921 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
physical education instruction; public schools

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2921

Introduced by

Representatives
Chaplik: Biasiucci, Heap, Hendrix, Kolodin, Olson, Pingerelli

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-701.05; relating to school
curricula.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-701.05, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-701.05.

Physical education instruction; activity requirements; exceptions

A. Each school district shall provide
daily physical education instruction to students in kindergarten programs and
each of grades one through twelve, with at least sixty percent of the physical
education instructional time spent in moderate physical activity.� The physical
education instruction required by this section must include all of the
following:

1. Individual and team activities,
including dance.

2. Instruction that exposes students
to career pathways relating to health, fitness and sports science.

3. Instruction that is designed to
help students develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to be physically
active over their lifetimes.

B. Each school district shall provide
adapted physical education instruction for any student who is a child with a
disability as defined in section 15-731 consistent with the student's
individualized education program or section 504 plan and with the policies and
procedures adopted pursuant to section 15-763.

C. A school district may excuse a
student from all or part of the physical activity requirements prescribed in
subsection A of this section if any of the following applies:

1. The student participates on a
school-sponsored athletic team that provides at least _____ minutes of physical
activity each week.

2. A physician who is licensed
pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 states in writing that physical activity
will jeopardize the student's health and well-being.

3. The student is a pupil with
chronic health problems as defined in section 15-346 and the student's
health does not allow the student to participate in the physical activity.

4. The student's individualized
education program team makes a determination to excuse the student from all or
part of the physical activity requirements.

5. A student's parent submits a
signed statement to the school district requesting that the student be excused
from all or part of the physical activity requirements.

D. This section does not require
students to participate in outdoor physical activities during times of extreme
weather.

END_STATUTE