Physical Education

News & Announcements

2022 Physical Education Standards of Learning

On January 17, 2022, the Virginia Board of Education approved and adopted the proposed revisions to the 2015 Physical Education Standards of Learning. The 2022 Physical Education Standards of Learning were developed through numerous phases of meetings convened with Virginia educators, college professors, and other passionate stakeholders. The proposed standards reflect a comprehensive review of the standards, expertise of diverse constituents, include edits to enhance clarity, specificity, rigor, alignment of skills and content, and reflect current academic research and practice. The updated standards support a planned sequential K-12 standards-based program of study designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors of healthy active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, and self-efficacy to achieve the goals of becoming knowledgeable and skillful movers who value and adopt a physically active, healthy lifestyle and understand the science behind physical movement.

Questions about the newly adopted standards should be directed to vdoe.physicalactivity@doe.virginia.gov.

Overview

Physical education provides students with the knowledge, processes, and skills to become physically educated, physically fit and responsible in their physical activity choices and behaviors for a lifetime. Virginia's standards for physical education are grouped into five strands: skilled movement, movement principles and concepts, personal fitness, responsible behaviors and physically active lifestyle. The standards in each strand are sequenced to progress in complexity from grade level to grade level.

Standards of Learning

Instructional Resources

• K-12 Physical Education Technical Assistance Guides (PDF) – The Physical Education Standards of Learning identify concepts, processes, and skills for physical education in kindergarten through grade 10 for Virginia's public schools. This framework provides school divisions and teachers with a guide for creating aligned curricula and learning experiences in physical education.
• Physical Education Program Guidelines for Public Elementary and Middle Schools (PDF)
• Nutrition & Physical Activity Best Practices Database – Includes results of wellness-related fitness testing, as well as information on successful programs and policies implemented by local school divisions designed to improve nutrition and physical activity in the public schools.
• Bicycle Safety
• Health Smart Virginia - Sample Lesson Plans and Instructional Resources
• Heart Healthy Resources for Schools: Nutrition and Physical Activity Guide (PDF)
• Governor's Physical Activity Awards Program brochure (PDF)
• Virginia's Wellness-Related Fitness Testing Program
  • Cumulative Wellness-Related Fitness Record (PDF)
  • Wellness School Summary Form (PDF)
  • Wellness Teacher Summary Form (PDF)
• Guidelines for Policies on Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention in Student-Athletes (Word)
• Guidelines for Policies on Concussions in Students (Word)
• Public Secondary Schools; Satisfaction of Physical Education Requirements; Participation in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
• Report: Fitness Data State Summaries
  • Spring 2019 (PDF)
  • Spring 2018 (PDF)
  • Spring 2017 (PDF)
  • Spring 2016 (PDF)
  • Spring 2015 (PDF)
  • Spring 2014 (PDF)
  • Spring 2013 (PDF)
  • Spring 2012 (PDF)
  • Spring 2011 (PDF)
  • Spring 2010 (PDF)
  • Spring 2009 (PDF)
  • Spring 2008 (PDF)
  • Spring 2007 (PDF)
  • Spring 2006 (PDF)
  • Spring 2005 (PDF)
  • Spring 2004 (PDF)
  • Spring 2003 (PDF)

Outside Resources

• VDOT Walk to School
• Girls on the Run
• Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SunWise Program
• OPEN Physical Education Curriculum
• PE Central
• GOPHER Resources

Professional Organizations

• SHAPE America
• Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (Virginia AHPERD)