Mandate: The MS Healthy Students Act passed by the MS Legislature and signed by Governor Haley Barbour requires the following guidelines for physical education and fitness: 150 minutes of activity based instruction per week in grades K-8 (MS Code §37-13-134). Code §37-151-7 (1999) and for students in grades 9-12, a 1/2 Carnegie Unit of physical education for graduation.
The 2013-2014 Mississippi Physical Education Framework provides standards for use by all physical education instructors.
Standard 33 of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards state the basic curriculum of each elementary and middle school to include physical education. In grades 9-12 Standard 20 requires 1/2 Carnegie Unit credit for graduation.
The local school board of each school district shall establish a local school health council for each school, which shall ensure that community values are reflected in the local schools wellness policy to address school health.
Each school in accordance with the 2004 WIC Reauthorization Act must develop and implement a local school wellness policy. One of these commitments must be the commitment to physical education/physical activity.