PE Policy Pivot

By Dylan XIe Sept. 24, 2025

Students wipe the sweat off their face, sunburned and wishing for the class to be over. For hundreds of student athletes across the district, this scene was a distant past. Previously, students had the option to complete two seasons of school sports to earn five physical education (PE) credits per season—enough to skip a second year of PE. However, the district now has stricter requirements in order to take only one year of PE. 

According to the new San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) Board Policy 6146.11, starting from this school year, students can only receive alternate PE credit after completing PE Course 1. This policy was made to ensure that all students complete PE Course 1 as it is a pre-requisite class for other PE classes and school-sponsored sports. In fact, the policy was enacted in part to make sure students, athlete or not, receive a comprehensive education, aligning themselves with the California Education Code Section 51222 that states that all students from grades 7-12 receive at least 400 minutes of PE every ten days.  

With the new development, students of all grades will now have to complete PE Course 1 in order to be considered for exemption from a second year of PE. 

This policy could have a lasting impact on school teams that rely on the influx of freshman recruits every year. For example, in wrestling, the recruitment last year was lower than expected and with the new policy this year, the number is expected to drop further. 

“I think the new PE policy will definitely decrease the freshman turnout for the wrestling team. This would negatively affect the team’s performance since we need people in certain weight classes to match up against other schools or else it is an automatic forfeit,” Adam Mushell ‘28 said. 

As for other teams, the number of cross country and track and field sign-ups have decreased significantly, especially for the girls.  

“Last year, around 13 girls and 40 boys signed up for cross country while only eight girls and about 30 boys registered this year. On the girls’ team, there are no new freshmen recruits, which is problematic because as people start to graduate, we will not have new teammates, and then we will not have a complete team. Because there are not enough girls, there is no JV girls’ team this year, leaving us with less opportunities to score points to go to CCS,” Nao Sawaguchi ’28 said.  

Although this policy could affect the turnout in signups, the freshmen that ultimately join the team despite receiving no PE credit may be more driven by passion. 

“I would want students who help build camaraderie, people who join the team because of their love for the sport and desire to compete,” said Mike Sparrer, Athletic Director, said.

Among the incoming freshmen, there have been some mixed feelings about this new policy. 

“PE is basically a free period for me and I love playing sports, so it's a win-win,” Luke Orozco ’29 said. 

However, for others, not being able to receive PE credits for school sports takes away some of the motivation to participate. Typically, skipping the second year of PE frees up another period to take a class they want. Since most advanced classes require prerequisites, this may limit the classes students can explore. 

“Originally I was going to play water polo, but once I heard about the new policy, I decided not to play. I’d rather take a second year of PE than play two seasons of sports,” Amelia Vac ‘29 said. 

On the other hand, not earning PE credit from school sports could motivate students to work harder to pass their physical education class, as students who do not pass the course will not be considered for exemption from a second year of PE. Furthermore, with an increased incentive, students will likely become more fit, healthy and carry on better habits into the future, aligning with the purpose of the new policy.  

In addition, more exercise has been proven to have a positive impact on a student's academic performance and mood. According to Mayo Clinic, exercising a few times a week can increase self-confidence, decrease mood swings and depression. 

Overall, the new policy from the SJUSD represents a major change of an alternate credit system. Now, incoming freshmen will have to wait until their sophomore year to earn PE credits for sports. Although freshmen are limited in this policy, the policy provides a gateway to help them become fitter and healthier as they will need to pass the mandatory year of PE in order to have alternate pathways to PE credit. 

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About the Contributor

Dylan Xie

Staff Writer

Dylan Xie is a sophomore at Leland High School and a staff writer for The Charger Account. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer, work out, and hang out with friends.