What is PE?

What is Physical Education?

Physical education is a core, academic school subject that has a planned, sequential K-12 curriculum based on the SHAPE America (2014) national standards and grade-level outcomes.  It is an essential part of a well-rounded K-12 education (Every Child Succeeds Act, 2015).  Physical education is defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 as the development of physical and motor fitness; fundamental motor skills and patterns; and skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games; and sports (including intramural and lifetime sports).  The term includes special physical education, adapted physical education, movement education, and motor development (United States Department of Education, 2017, para 4). Through participation in a high quality physical education program, students become physically literate (Mandigo et al., 2009; SHAPE America, 2014; Whitehead, 2001).  The following content standards identify the outcomes of a quality physical education program and a physically literate person (SHAPE America, 2024):

Students will

1. Develop a variety of motor skills

2. Apply knowledge related to movement and fitness skills

3. Develop social skills through movement

4. Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement, and choose to engage in physical activity

REFERENCES

Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2015). https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1177.

Mandigo, J., Francis, N., Lodewyk, K., & Lopez, R. (2009). Position paper: Physical literacy for educators. PHE Canada.

Mandigo, J., Francis, N., Lodewyk, K., & Lopez, R. (2012). Physical literacy for educators. Physical Education and Health Journal, 75(3), 27–

         30.

SHAPE America. (2024). National standards for physical education (4th ed.). Human Kinetics.

United States Department of Education (2007). My child’s special needs: A guide to the IEP. Author. United States Department of Education.

         http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html#closer

United States Department of Education. (2017). Individuals with disabilities education act: Sec.300.39 special education. USDOE.

         https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.39

Whitehead, M. (2001). The concept of physical literacy. European Journal of Physical Education, 6(2), 127-138.

Whitehead, M. (2007). Physical literacy and its importance to every individual.  National Disability Association Ireland.

         http://www.physical-literacy.org.uk/dublin2007.php