PE Waiver Information

When will the Oakwood Schools PE Waiver take effect?
The first season a student will be eligible to earn a PE Waiver will be the Fall 2022 season. 

Do I have to earn a waiver?
No, you can fulfill the PE graduation requirement by taking two semesters of PE.  Earning the PE Waiver is an option, not an expectation.

What constitutes a season in Oakwood Schools?
A season will be defined in terms of Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. If a student, for example, mainly participates with the soccer program, but kicks for the football team on Friday nights, that participation for the purposes of the PE Waiver would be one (1) season – Fall.

What constitutes a “full season” for Oakwood Schools?
A full season is determined to be from the first regular season contest through the last contest.  A student must complete the full season in “good standing” for the season to be counted toward the PE Waiver.

If a student has participated in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading  before the Fall 2022 season, can those activities be applied toward a PE Waiver in Oakwood Schools?
No. According to the Ohio Department of Education’s waiver considerations, districts are not permitted to implement a retroactive policy.  The two full seasons and an additional one-half unit of credit (60 hours of instruction) must begin after the implementation date of the policy.  The first applicable season for Oakwood Schools will be the Fall 2022 season.

Can other activities (non-school-sponsored athletics, clubs, etc.) which involve physical activity on the part of the student be counted toward the two semesters of PE?
No. According to the Ohio Department of Education’s waiver considerations, the statute specifically limits the participation for credit toward the PE Waiver to interscholastic athletics, marching band and cheerleading.  A board of education does not have the authority to accept any additional participation outside of official school activities. 

What is the impact of being “cut” or quitting? 
According to the Ohio Department of Education’s waiver considerations, students must participate “for at least two full seasons” to earn the waiver.  The season during which a student was “cut” or quit the activity cannot be used to meet the two-season requirement.

What is the impact of a Code of Conduct violation?
A season in which a Code of Conduct violation results in the loss of participation may jeopardize a student’s “good standing” for the PE Waiver as determined by the Principal and Athletic Director.

What is the impact if a student is injured during the season?
Injury will not prevent the completion of one season if the Principal, Athletic Director and Coach determine the student actively participated with the team during the injury and took part in any physical rehabilitation required to treat the injury.

Can an academically ineligible student count the ineligible season for the PE Waiver?
An academically ineligible student may have the season count for the PE Waiver as determined by the Principal, Athletic Director and Coach if the student was eligible for at least part of the athletic season and fully participated in practices during the period of ineligibility throughout the entirety of the season.

Can team managers or statisticians participate in the PE Waiver?
No. Student team managers, statisticians, helpers, etc. are not eligible for the PE Waiver. Only students physically participating in the activity are eligible.

Why two full years of band?
According to the Ohio Department of Education, to earn the PE Waiver by participating in band, the student must participate in band for two full years of band, plus marching band camp.

Can a student earn the PE Waiver by doing marching band and one sports season?
No, it must be two seasons of a sport or two years of marching band, not a combination of the two, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

If a student participates in only one full season of an approved activity, can the student be excused from .25 units of Physical Education and thus only take .25 units of Physical Education to complete the Physical Education graduation requirement?
No. The Ohio Department of Education statute requires participation for at least two full seasons. There is no provision in the law that would permit any type of partial excuse. 

Are there any other requirements students must meet beyond the two full seasons of participation in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading to graduate?
Yes. Students earning the PE Waiver must complete one-half unit in another elective course, to earn a total of 5.5 elective credits. Oakwood students need a total of 22 credits to graduate.

When must a student complete the requirement for the PE Waiver?
A student must complete or be engaged in completing the second season by the end of the student’s junior year.  

If a student takes advantage of the PE Waiver offered by one district, does the waiver transfer with the student if the student moves to a district without PE waivers?
According to the Ohio Department of Education, students are subject to the graduation requirements of the district where they will graduate. In the case of a transfer student, the receiving district is not obligated to honor the PE Waiver earned in the prior district. The district should count any non-PE credits the student earned as a condition for receiving the PE waiver while in the prior district, but the student will still need to earn the required PE credit as required by the new district. Districts may decide how non-PE credits apply to graduation requirements.

Can a student use the PE Waiver for health class?
No, the Ohio Department of Education only allows waivers for PE. Students who earn a PE Waiver will still need to complete a semester of health.

Are there multiple options for completing the PE graduation requirements?
Yes. A student may complete the PE graduation requirement by taking the two required classes either during the regular school year and/or during summer school, by utilizing the options afforded by the PE Waiver or completing an approved Credit Flex academic plan for PE.

How does this change affect members of the Class of 2023?
Most members of the Class of 2023 have completed their PE graduation requirement already. If not, students in the Class of 2023 must take PE as part of their regular curriculum at Oakwood High School.

How does this change affect members of the Class of 2024 and 2025?
Most members of these classes have completed one of their two PE classes. Students  may complete the graduation requirement by simply taking PE II. They may also opt out of that class and start working on earning a PE Waiver. In order to earn the PE Waiver, students must complete two seasons of sports or two full years of marching band to earn the PE Waiver.
 

How does this change affect members of the Class of 2026? 
Students may earn a PE Waiver during their freshman, sophomore and junior years. Those electing not to earn the waiver will take two semesters of PE classes before graduation. Summer gym during the summer of 2023 can also be an option.