Beginning next school year, high school athletes in Madison public schools can swap a semester of gym for an academic alternative.

Monday night, the school board unanimously approved a change to the district's graduation requirements. Upperclassmen participating in WIAA sports can take an academic class instead of one of the three required semesters of physical education.

"We do feel that this is supportive of improving and increasing student achievement and that there are students who would benefit academically," said School Board Member Mary Burke.

The new policy is a response to changes on the state level. Last year, local districts were allowed the leeway whether to enforce a change.