Daily Physical Education (P.E.)

As examples of best practices for schools to consider, the goal of these recommendations is to encourage all students in grades K-12, including students with disabilities, special health-care needs, and in alternative educational settings, to receive physical education or physical activity of 30 minutes per day, not to exceed 150 minutes per week. All physical education classes will be taught by a certified physical education teacher. Students will spend at least 75 percent of P.E. class time participating in moderate to vigorous activity.

Teachers should make all reasonable efforts to avoid long periods of time when students are physically inactive. When possible, physical activity should be integrated into learning activities. When that is not possible, students should be given periodic breaks during which they are encouraged to stand and be moderately active.

Students shall not be deprived of physical activity as a consequence for behavior or academic performance.

Appropriate accommodations shall be made for students with special needs as required by law and sound professional judgment.

Daily Recess

All elementary school students should have at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess, preferably outdoors, during which schools should encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Schools should discourage extended periods (i.e., periods of two or more hours) of inactivity. When activities, such as mandatory schoolwide testing, make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, schools should give students periodic breaks during which they are encouraged to stand and be moderately active.

Opportunities Before and After School

All elementary, middle and high schools should offer extracurricular physical activity programs, such as physical activity clubs or intramural programs. All high schools, and middle schools as appropriate, will offer interscholastic sports programs. Schools should offer a range of activities that meet the needs, interests and abilities of all students, including boys, girls, students with disabilities and students with special health-care needs. Appropriate accommodations shall be made for students with special needs, as required by law and sound professional judgment.

After-school child care and enrichment programs should provide and encourage – verbally and through the provision of space, equipment and activities – daily periods of moderate to vigorous physical activity for all participants.

Physical Activity and Punishment

Teachers and other school and community personnel should not use physical activity (e.g., running laps, doing pushups) or withhold opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education) as a consequence for behavior or academic performance.

Safe Routes to School

The school district will assess and, if necessary and to the extent possible, make needed improvements to make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school. When appropriate, the district will work together with local public works, public safety, and/or police departments in those efforts. The school district will explore the availability of federal "safe routes to school" funds, administered by the state department of transportation, to finance such improvements. The school district will encourage students to use public transportation when available and appropriate for travel to school, and will work with the local transit agency to provide transit passes for students.

Use of School Facilities

Subject to district policies on facility usage, school spaces and facilities should be available to students, staff and community members before and after the school day, on weekends and during school vacations. School policies concerning safety will apply at all times.

Recommended P.E. 'Best Practices'

• Student in grades K – 12, receive 150 minutes of physical education each week
• Teacher/student ratio in physical education classes do not exceed state limits
• Physical education curriculum is consistent with PL/VS Program of Studies and Core Content for Assessment
• Health-related physical fitness is a primary component of the physical education curriculum
• All student are physically active at least 75 percent of scheduled physical education class time
• Physical education classes are educationally sound, enjoyable and are psychologically, physically and emotionally safe
• Schools promote community physical activities
• Physical education classes are taught by certified physical education teachers
• Physical education teachers participate in content specific professional development activities
• Special needs students and/or students with special health concerns are welcomed and accommodated in all physical education classes
• School playgrounds meet established OSHA standards for playground safety