Physical Education Assessment Recommendations

In addition to measures outlined in Local Law 102, the Phys Ed 4 All Coalition recommends that new legislation be passed to ensure the Department of Education reports on the following school-level metrics that are key to measuring the quality of PE programs:

  • Quantity:
    • Average class size of PE
    • Number of days per year students take PE
    • Number of class periods, blocks, or applicable measurement per week of PE
  • Curriculum standards: Whether the school is using a planned, K-12 sequential PE curriculum that adheres to national and state standards for PE, and whether this curriculum is systematically reviewed and updated
  • Teacher credentials: Show plans for and progress toward ensuring all PE teachers are licensed, certified, or endorsed by an accredited teacher preparation program to teach PE
  • Student assessment:
    • Whether the school is implementing the Presidential Youth Fitness Program or a similar program that integrates student fitness assessment, annual professional development for teachers that is specific to their field, and recognition for students who are achieving a Healthy Fitness Zone.
    • Whether they are reporting individual results to students and parents and aggregate results to the appropriate state agency.
  • Equipment and facilities: Whether PE programs have appropriate equipment and adequate facilities for students to engage in the recommended amount and intensity of physical activity.
  • Substitutions, Waivers, Exemptions, & Adaptions:
    • Whether the school/district has applied to the state for a waiver from the state-mandated PE requirement
    • Whether schools/districts allow student exemptions or substitutions for PE
    • Whether modifications or adaptions allow PE courses to meet the needs of students with disabilities, instead of offering waivers to students with disabilities
    • Whether students are not allowed to opt out of PE to prepare for other classes or standardized tests

Legislation should ensure data is provided by every school in New York City and that the DOE provides information in a way that is accessible for parents, educators and advocates. City Council legislation should ask DOE to:

  • Proactively send school-level data home with students and/or post school-level data to individual schools’ websites,
  • Provide a summary of key findings from the report, and
  • Make information available in the primary languages of families.