More States Allowing Students To Waive Physical Education Classes

USA Today (12/14, Schulte, Dooley) reports that even with "growing concerns about obesity among young people, the number of states that allow students to waive or substitute physical education classes has grown from 27 to 32 since 2006" according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). Instead of taking physical education classes, students in these states can "enroll in interscholastic sports, marching band, cheerleading or other activities." Stephen Jefferies, a public health professor at Central Washington University, said that "the increase in waivers" come from "efforts within school districts to save money." Meanwhile, "The number of states that allow waivers for health issues, disabilities or religious reasons has risen from 18 to 30 since 2006." Online physical education is also an option in some schools. These classes "combine study about health and nutrition with exercise students do on their own."