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Participation in class is critical to success in physical education. The majority of physical education goals are met through physical activity and the student interactions that occur as a result.

There are many reasons why students may miss class. When field trips, absence, illness etc. cause a student to miss a significant portion of the work, it is expected that the work be made up. The threshold level is participation in a minimum of 80% of the classes in each unit.

Physical education is in the unique position that a student may actually be present in class but unable to physically participate due to medical considerations. There is no penalty as long as they provide the required documentation from home, the school nurse or a physician. But the following expectations apply. The student is still required to attend the class, pay attention to all material covered in class, be attentive to the activity and be involved in any reasonable manner (for example : scorekeeper, team captain, written work etc.). If, when combined with other forms of non-participation they fail to meet the 80% threshold they are required to make up the work.

Medical problems that require extended removal from participation and that are supported by physician documentation fall under slightly different guidelines. Due to the extreme hardship that would be placed on a student confronted with weeks of classes to make up, and consistent with the state guidelines, students need not make up those classes covered specifically by a physician's note. But in order to get credit for the course the following conditions must be met:

• The attendance level in class must meet the 80% threshold
• The student must be attentive in class, complete alternative assignments when issued, and be responsible for all written work required of the other students
• At the end of the excused period, the student must return to class and meet the participation level for the remaining classes.

If a student will miss the entire semester of participation due to a medical excuse, they shall be removed from the class and make up the course requirement later in their high school career. If the student will be excused from class participation for the entire school duration, alternative methods of meeting the requirement consistent with the limitations of the medical condition will be explored.