Physical Education

Read about the role PE classes in schools have in students’ learning and development
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Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Heisman Trophy Winner: Physical Education Saved My Life
We must seize the moment to provide more funding and support for vital physical education resources, writes former NFL player Herschel Walker.
Herschel Walker, May 10, 2016
4 min read
Third grader Elyse Vinton hangs upside down during recess at Eastridge Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb., where schools are now required to report on their progress on student-health-related measures, including the time allotted for recess.
Third grader Elyse Vinton hangs upside down during recess at Eastridge Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb., where schools are now required to report on their progress on student-health-related measures, including the time allotted for recess.
Andrew Dickinson for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Schools Continue to Lag Behind Recommendations for Phys. Ed. Time
Only Iowa and the District of Columbia require the amount of weekly physical education time recommended by national experts at the elementary and middle school levels.
Marva Hinton, May 4, 2016
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Groups Allege California Is Falling Short in Phys. Ed. Opportunities for Minorities
Six health and civil rights groups allege California is failing to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by not providing equal access to physical education opportunities to minority students.
Bryan Toporek, August 19, 2015
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Texas Drownings Highlight Calls for Swim Instruction
A spike in the number of children drowning this summer in Dallas County is bolstering calls for water-safety lessons in and out of school.
Jacob Bell, July 24, 2015
5 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Senate Ed. Committee Approves ESEA Amendment Renewing Phys. Ed. Program
During a markup of the proposed ESEA rewrite Wednesday, the Senate education committee unanimously passed an amendment that would reauthorize funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program.
Bryan Toporek, April 16, 2015
2 min read
Federal Phys. Ed. Designated as 'Core Academic Subject' in Proposed ESEA Rewrite
The proposed bipartisan rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act designates physical education as a "core academic subject," lumping it in with English, science, math, and history.
Bryan Toporek, April 9, 2015
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Va. Legislature Weighing Physical Activity Mandate for K-5 Students
The Virginia General Assembly is currently considering a bill that would require 20 minutes of daily physical activity for students between kindergarten and fifth grade.
Bryan Toporek, February 20, 2015
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Phys. Ed. Found to Benefit Academic Performance of African-American Girls
Participation in physical education may have a beneficial effect on the academic performance of African-American high school girls, suggests a new study.
Bryan Toporek, January 14, 2015
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement South Dakota Board Adopts New Phys. Ed. Standards
The South Dakota Board of Education adopted a new set of physical education standards Monday after conducting the final of four public hearings.
Bryan Toporek, September 19, 2014
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Physical Fitness Associated With Less Depression in Middle School Girls
For girls, higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the 6th grade were linked to both significantly less depression and a lower body mass index (BMI) percentile score in the 7th grade.
Bryan Toporek, August 27, 2014
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Fla. Bill Would Allow Students to Substitute Computer Science for P.E.
In the push to get more students taking computer science courses, the proposed bill would allow Florida students to take computer science in lieu of P.E. and still earn a diploma.
Gina Cairney, March 13, 2014
1 min read
Student Achievement Physically Fit Students Perform Better Academically, Study Finds
Kansas elementary and middle school students who met certain physical-fitness benchmarks were considerably more likely to exceed reading and math performance standards.
Bryan Toporek, February 4, 2014
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Chicago Public Schools Proposes Daily Phys. Ed. for Elementary, High Schools
The Chicago school board will consider a proposal Wednesday that would mandate 30 minutes of daily P.E. for elementary schools and an average of 42 minutes a day for high schools.
Bryan Toporek, January 21, 2014
2 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement One in Four Parents Dissatisfied With Schools' Phys. Ed. Offerings
One in four K-12 public school parents believe their child's school isn't placing enough emphasis on physical education, a survey finds.
Bryan Toporek, December 4, 2013
2 min read