Shape of the Nation Report:Shape of the Nation Report:Status of Physical Education Status of Physical Education

in the USAin the USA20062006

National Association for Sport and National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)Physical Education (NASPE)

American Heart Association (AHA)American Heart Association (AHA)

Key RecommendationsKey RecommendationsQuality physical education is provided to all

students as an integral part of K-12 education

Adequate time (i.e., 150 minutes per week for elementary school students; 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students) is provided for physical education at every grade, K to 12

Key Recommendations (cont’d)Key Recommendations (cont’d)All states develop standards for student

learning in physical education that reflect the National Standards for Physical Education

All states set minimum standards for student achievement in physical education

Successfully meeting minimum standards in physical education is a requirement for high school graduation

Key Recommendations (cont’d)Key Recommendations (cont’d)Other courses and activities that include

physical activity should not be substituted for instructional physical education

Physical education is delivered by certified/licensed physical education teachers

Quality physical education is provided Quality physical education is provided to all students as an integral part to all students as an integral part

of K-12 educationof K-12 education

States mandate physical educationElementary school – 36 states (71%)Middle school – 33 states (65%)High school – 42 states (83%)

Approximately 1/3 of states DO NOT mandate physical education at the elementary and

middle school level

State Mandates for Physical EducationState Mandates for Physical Education

Adequate time is provided to physical Adequate time is provided to physical education at every grade, K to 12education at every grade, K to 12

States that mandate a specific amount of instructional time

Elementary school – 11 states (22%)Middle schools – 7 states (14%)High school – 10 states (20%)

Time Requirements That Meet Time Requirements That Meet National RecommendationsNational Recommendations

Elementary school (150 minutes/week) – 2 states Louisiana New Jersey

Middle school (225 minutes/week) – 1 state Montana

High school (225 minutes/week) – 4 “states” District of Columbia Indiana Montana South Carolina

States develop standards for student States develop standards for student learning in physical education that learning in physical education that reflect the National Standards for reflect the National Standards for

Physical EducationPhysical Education

47 states and the District of Columbia have state standards for physical education

Three do not:IowaMinnesotaOhio

Alignment of state standards with Alignment of state standards with national standardsnational standards

47 45 44464647

0

10

20

30

40

50

Motor Skill

sFitness

Knowledge

Personal/social re

sponsibility

Regular partic

ipation in PA

Value PA

All states set minimum standards All states set minimum standards for student achievement in for student achievement in

physical educationphysical education15 states require student assessment in physical education

11 states – physical fitness levels 10 states – knowledge of physical education

content 9 states – motor/movement skills 3 states – participation in physical activity outside

of physical education class

Successfully meeting minimum Successfully meeting minimum standards in PE is a requirement for standards in PE is a requirement for

high school graduationhigh school graduation

Required HS credits0.5 credit – 8 states1 credit – 14 states1.5 credits – 6 states2 credits – 6 states3.75 credits – 1 state

Graduation test16 states have oneNone include

physical education

Other courses and activities that Other courses and activities that include physical activity include physical activity

should not be substituted for should not be substituted for instructional physical educationinstructional physical education18 states (35%) – provide

exemptions/waivers to school districts27 states (53%) – permit schools

districts/schools to allow substitutions by students

ROTC – 18 states Interscholastic sports – 17 states Marching band – 11 states

Physical education is delivered Physical education is delivered by certified/licensed by certified/licensed

physical education teachersphysical education teachers

States that require teacher certification/licensure in physical educationElementary school – 28 states (57%)Middle school – 43 states (84%)High school – 46 states (90%)

National Board CertificationNational Board Certification30 states (59%) actively support physical education teachers going through the National Board Certification (NBC) process29 states – promote NCB and encourage

teachers to register18 states – provide mentoring14 states – provide NBC teachers with a higher

ongoing level of pay12 states – provide a one-time monetary bonus

to new NBC teachers

Online Physical EducationOnline Physical Education

12 states (24%)Online courses

6 states – comprehensive physical education (addressing all state or national standards)

5 states – personal fitness/wellness course2 states – sport courses2 states – weight training courses

State Physical Education State Physical Education CoordinatorCoordinator

Undergraduate or graduate degree in physical education (“qualified”) – 30 states

51% or more time dedicated to physical education – 14 states

Both of the above – 11 statesAZ, AR, DE, HI, IA, MS, NJ, NY, NC, SC, WY

““Best” and “Worst” States for Best” and “Worst” States for Physical Education Physical Education Requirements

However,

Requirements ≠ Overall Quality

““Best” StatesBest” StatesRhode Island – Requires 1-12, and does not allow exemptions, waivers, or substitutions Massachusetts – Requires K-12, but permits school districts or schools to allow students to substitute other activities for required PEIllinois – Requires K-12, but grants exemptions/waivers for school districts re time or credit requirements and permits school districts or schools to allow students to substitute other activities for required PENew Jersey – Requires 1-12, requires 3.75 credits of high school PE, but permits school districts or schools to allow students to substitute other activities for required PE

““Worst” States (Worst” States (not in any order)not in any order)

Alaska – Does not require PE for ES, MS, HS; does not require certified/licensed PE teachers for ES, MS, HSColorado – Does not require PE for ES, MS, HS; does not require certified/licensed PE teachers for ES, MS, HSHawaii – Does not require certified/licensed PE teachers for ES, MS, HSIowa – No state standards for physical educationMichigan – Does not require PE for ES, MS, HSMinnesota – No state standards for physical educationNorth Dakota – Does not require PE for ES, MS, HSOhio – No state standards for physical educationSouth Dakota – Does not require certified/licensed PE teachers for ES,

MS, HSTexas – Does not require certified/licensed PE teachers for ES, MS, HSWyoming – Does not require PE for ES, MS, HS

Body Mass Index (BMI)Body Mass Index (BMI) Three states require schools to measure body mass

index (BMI) of studentsArkansasCaliforniaIllinois

Uses of BMI dataAggregate data is sent to the state – 2 statesIndividual student results sent to parents – 2

statesResearch study – 2 states

Critical Research Studies NeededCritical Research Studies Needed Relationship between physical competence (motor

skills), learned in school physical education classes, and physical activity participation throughout the lifespan

Relationship between school physical education and physical activity participation outside of physical education class during the K-12 school years

Relationship between school physical education and school behavioral and learning outcomes