Bolstering Physical Education & Activity

Empower active lives, build lifelong health

“

Physical education isn't just a class — it is an essential component of a complete educational program. It encourages students to be physically active and develop the skills and confidence they need for a lifetime of activity.

— Sean Brock, MS Ed
Whole Child Health National Advisor II, Physical Education & Physical Activity

Our evidence-based approach helps schools:

Develop high-quality physical education programs

Provide students with standards-based instruction to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for active living.

Support children's well-being

Integrate physical activity into daily routines to enhance focus, reduce stress, and improve learning outcomes.

Promote engaging, inclusive activity

Ensure all students benefit from physical education and activity, with support for diverse health needs.

Get Recognized for Physical Education & Activity

Meet these criteria to qualify as one of America’s Healthiest Schools.

1

Our school:

Provides physical education in all grades, and prohibits waivers, exemptions, and substitutions for physical education class time or credit (except for accommodations made for students with medical, cultural, or religious considerations).

To be eligible for an award, you'll need to be doing this.
Find resources to help >

✅ Nice going! The award application will ask you to:

For elementary grades, provide how many physical education instructional minutes students received in a typical week by grade level.
For secondary grades, provide the physical education course names required or offered as an elective for each grade this school year.
Upload the physical education requirement sent to families stating that instructional staff provided PE in all grades or offered PE as an elective course available to all secondary students.

2

Our school requires all physical education teachers to use a curriculum that is:

Developmentally appropriate

Culturally responsive

Sequential

Consistent with national or state standards for physical education

To be eligible for an award, you'll need to be doing all of these.
Find resources to help >

✅ Great job! The award application will ask you to:

Provide the physical education curriculum''s name(s) used by all teachers that provide PE instruction (e.g., SPARK PE, CATCH, OPEN Curriculum, or district-written curriculum).
Describe how the curriculum sequence was aligned to national or state physical education standards and how instruction maximized participation for every student (i.e., students engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 50 percent of PE class time).
Upload at least one (1) physical education lesson or unit plan that includes strategies to engage students in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 50 percent of PE class time.

3

All students are provided:

Opportunities to engage in 30 cumulative minutes of physical activity throughout each school day.

To be eligible for an award, you'll need to be doing this.
Find resources to help >

✅ Way to go! The award application will ask you to:

Select the physical activity opportunities provided to ensure all students are provided at least 30 cumulative minutes of physical activity during the school day.
Describe how physically active is integrated throughout the learning environment to engage students in at least 30 cumulative minutes of physical activity during a typical school day.

4

Our school requires:

All staff (including non-instructional staff) who provide physical activity opportunities to make appropriate accommodations to ensure all students, including those with special health care needs, are provided equitable opportunities to participate.

To be eligible for an award, you'll need to be doing this.
Find resources to help >

✅ Fantastic! The award application will ask you to:

Select the inclusive physical activity practices used to ensure all students, including those with special health care needs, are provided equitable and inclusive opportunities to participate in physical activity (e.g., recess, physical activity breaks, active learning)
Describe what staff guidance was provided on inclusive physical activity modifications and accommodations, what materials were available, and how students with special health care needs were physically active during the school day.

Could you be one of America's Healthiest Schools?

Let’s make your vision a reality!
My team is here to help you become one of America’s Healthiest Schools.

—Naomi, Member Engagement & Support Team

Call 888-543-4584, book a chat, or send an email

Resources to Bolster Physical Education & Activity

In this 15-minute on-demand, gain an understanding of the strategies, activities and approaches that are required to develop a quality physical education program.

Activities to engage students in moderate to vigorous physical activity during Physical Education (PE) instructional time, including the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE).

Practical solutions to include all students into classroom physical activity opportunities.

Find out if your PE programs include all the essential components from SHAPE America.

Learn strategies and resources to lead engaging, age-appropriate recess management strategies and engaging activities that teachers and school staff can implement.