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2023 Legislative Impacts on Minnesota Physical Education
The 2023 Minnesota legislative session resulted in historic legislation being passed with regard to education—including changes to state statutes that directly impact K–12 public physical education. This is an overview of those changes.
1. State Physical Education Credit Requirement Clarified. All K–12 students must successfully complete high school level credit for graduation in physical education. Each local school district determines the amount of credit assigned. The credit must be sufficient to satisfy the state standards in physical education. Effective beginning with the 2024–25 school year. Statutory references: Graduation Requirements: Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.024, subdivision 1, has been amended by Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 55, article 2, section 7.
2. Revision of the State Physical Education Standards Postponed to 2026-27. The next review and revision of the physical education standards were postponed from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2026-2027 school year to meet the ten-year standard revision cycle requirement. Effective beginning March 20, 2023. Statutory references: Minnesota Session Laws – 2023, Regular Session CHAPTER 17—H.F.No. 112.
3. MDE is no longer required to adopt the SHAPE America national physical education standards as the state standards, but may utilize them as part of the standard review and revision process. Effective date: August 1, 2023. Statutory references: Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.021, subdivision 1 has been amended by Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 55, article 2, section 4(c).

Standards Update
2018 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Physical Education Standards should be fully implemented by this school year (2023-24). Full implementation is defined as:

  • By the 2023-24 school year, instruction in physical education in grades K-8 must include all of the 2018 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Physical Education.
  • Courses at the high school level through which students meet physical education graduation requirements must include the 2018 Minnesota Academic Standards in Physical Education.

Professional Development Opportunities through MNSHAPE/MDE

Three virtual professional development webinars will be offered after the 2023 MNSHAPE Conference, Nov 6-7, and posted on the MNSHAPE website. Dates and titles include:
December 14, 2023, Minnesota Standards in Action
February 8, 2024, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Physical Education
April 11, 2024, Physical Fitness in Physical Education
There are 17 videos available to you on the MNSHAPE MDE page that walks through the standard revision process at the local level and various other pertinent topics. See all videos here.

For questions related to physical education state policy and guidance, contact Mary Thissen-Milder, Ph.D., MDE Physical Education Specialist, at [email protected] or by phone at 651-582-8505.