May 30, 2003

David Roach, Superintendent
Cabell County Schools
P.O. Box 446
Huntington, WV 25709

RE: Graduation requirements – Physical Education
Dear Mr. Roach:

In your letter dated November 26, 2002 you inquired as to alternative strategies for offering and delivering the requirements for physical education for high school credit. When the new content standards for physical education go into effect in accordance with West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2520.6 at the beginning of 2003-04 school year, the secondary physical education class required for graduation must include at least one activity from each of five movement forms: team sports (basketball, volleyball, softball), individual and dual competitive (golf, tennis, fencing, archery), individual non-competitive (bicycling, weight training, self-defense), dance and/or rhythms (aerobics, line dancing, tai chi), and adventure/outdoor activities (climbing, backpacking, orienteering, fly fishing).
In reviewing those requirements and the time that may be needed for mastery by the students, it would not seem feasible to meet the standards for all five movement forms listed above in a ½ credit 4050 minute course. Therefore, as an alternative to offering a 1 credit 8100 minute course, offering the course in two segments, or two ½ credit courses, would necessitate that the second segment, or course, be a continuation of the first, so that all five movement forms are adequately covered. For example, activities presented in the first segment might include team sports, weight training, and aerobics. The second segment would then include activities from the two remaining movement forms: outdoor adventure and individual and dual competitive.

I hope this information is helpful as you begin the process of scheduling for next school year.
Sincerely,