© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Many Illinois Schools Cut Back On Physical Education

"Weight Rack" By Flickr User Colin Davis / (CC X 2.0)

Data released by the Illinois State Board of Education show many schools in the state have cut back on days of physical education on class schedules.

The Chicago Tribune said Wednesday that nearly 1,200 Illinois schools have been trimming the number of physical education days, frequently saying they don't have facilities or staff to have the courses daily, which is required by a state law.

Of the roughly 3,100 schools that reported, slightly over 60 percent said they had five days a week of physical education.

State Board of Education spokeswoman Laine Evans says the agency doesn't have plans to sanction school districts regarding physical education.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has said that he wants to lift the daily physical education requirement for schools.