High school PE waivers

AN ACT Relating to standardizing the process for waiving physical 1
education requirements for high school students; amending RCW 2
28A.230.050 and 28A.210.365; and creating a new section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature strongly believes in 5
the importance of health and fitness instruction and a well-rounded 6
education as it is one of the primary goals of basic education 7
identified in RCW 28A.150.210.8
(2) The legislature acknowledges that state law has allowed 9
individual high school students to be excused from participating in 10
physical education for certain reasons and good cause. The 11
legislature further acknowledges that the waiver process from 12
physical education requirements is based on local policy and 13
procedure and can vary widely between school districts. The 14
legislature finds that this variation between school districts leads 15
to confusion and inequitable flexibility for high school students.16
(3) The legislature intends to standardize the process for 17
excusing high school students from participating in physical 18
education, which will lead to more equitable access to this wavier 19
for high school students throughout the state. 20
S-3698.1
SENATE BILL 5952
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Wellman, Nobles, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/29/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
p. 1 SB 5952
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.230.050 and 2006 c 263 s 416 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) All high schools of the state shall emphasize the work of 3
physical education, and carry into effect all physical education 4
requirements established by rule of the superintendent of public 5
instruction((: PROVIDED, That individual )) and in accordance with 6
this section.7
(2) Individual high school students may be excused from 8
participating in physical education otherwise required under this 9
section on account of physical disability, employment, or religious 10
belief, ((or)) because of participation in directed athletics or 11
military science and tactics, or for other good cause.12
(3) By December 1, 2026, the Washington state school directors' 13
association, in consultation with the office of the superintendent of 14
public instruction and the state board of education, shall develop a 15
standardized process, including a template form, for excusing 16
individual high school students from participating in physical 17
education in accordance with state law. This process must be based 18
upon addressing health and physical education learning standards and 19
include alternative means of engaging in physical activities, as 20
directed in RCW 28A.210.365, and mastery-based credit allowable under 21
RCW 28A.230.090.22
(4) By August 1, 2027, school districts shall adopt the 23
standardized process and use the form developed under this section.24
(5) This section governs school operation and management under 25
RCW 28A.710.040 and 28A.715.020 and applies to charter schools 26
established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-tribal education 27
compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW to the same extent as 28
it applies to school districts.29
Sec. 3. RCW 28A.210.365 and 2007 c 5 s 5 are each amended to 30
read as follows: 31
It is the goal of Washington state to ensure that:32
(1) By 2010, all K-12 districts have school health advisory 33
committees that advise school administration and school board members 34
on policies, environmental changes, and programs needed to support 35
healthy food choice and physical activity and childhood fitness. 36
Districts shall include school nurses or other school personnel as 37
advisory committee members. 38
p. 2 SB 5952
(2) By 2010, only healthy food and beverages provided by schools 1
during school hours or for school-sponsored activities shall be 2
available on school campuses. Minimum standards for available food 3
and beverages, except food served as part of a United States 4
department of agriculture meal program, are: 5
(a) Not more than thirty-five percent of its total calories shall 6
be from fat. This restriction does not apply to nuts, nut butters, 7
seeds, eggs, fresh or dried fruits, vegetables that have not been 8
deep-fried, legumes, reduced-fat cheese, part-skim cheese, nonfat 9
dairy products, or low-fat dairy products; 10
(b) Not more than ten percent of its total calories shall be from 11
saturated fat. This restriction does not apply to eggs, reduced-fat 12
cheese, part-skim cheese, nonfat dairy products, or low-fat dairy 13
products; 14
(c) Not more than thirty-five percent of its total weight or 15
fifteen grams per food item shall be composed of sugar, including 16
naturally occurring and added sugar. This restriction does not apply 17
to the availability of fresh or dried fruits and vegetables that have 18
not been deep-fried; and 19
(d) The standards for food and beverages in this subsection do 20
not apply to: 21
(i) Low-fat and nonfat flavored milk with up to thirty grams of 22
sugar per serving; 23
(ii) Nonfat or low-fat rice or soy beverages; or24
(iii) One hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice.25
(3) By 2010, all students in grades one through eight should have 26
at least one hundred fifty minutes of quality physical education 27
every week. 28
(4) By 2010, all student health and fitness instruction shall be 29
conducted by appropriately certified instructors. 30
(5) ((Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, any )) Any 31
district waiver or exemption policy from physical education 32
requirements for high school students under RCW 28A.230.050 should be 33
based upon meeting both health and fitness curricula concepts as well 34
as alternative means of engaging in physical activity, but should 35
acknowledge students' interest in pursuing their academic interests.36
--- END ---
p. 3 SB 5952