Recommendations for Developing and Implementing State-level Physical Education Accountability Systems in Student Learning

Abstract

With the introduction of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, physical education is now considered a part of a “well-rounded education.” One of the critical features of ESSA is the growing expectation for states to establish accountability systems that monitor student learning. In 2018, a group of researchers conducted a study to examine the status of state-level accountability systems in physical education. Based on the findings, critical elements for robust accountability systems of student learning were identified. The purpose of this article is to discuss recommendations for policymakers and school leaders to develop and implement robust state-level accountability systems to inform policy, standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment in physical education. To better advocate for the societal value of physical education, robust accountability systems must become the norm, and student learning should be evident.

Acknowledgments

Emi Tsuda and James Wyant are co-first authors. Sean M. Bulger, Eloise Elliott and Andrea R. Taliaferro contributed equally to the project.

The authors would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Drs. Shannon Michael and Sarah Lee from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Funding

The original study of the report was supported by the American Council on Exercise and the American Heart Association.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emi Tsuda

Emi Tsuda ([email protected]) and James Wyant are assistant professors, Sean M. Bulger and Eloise Elliott are professors, and Andrea R. Taliaferro is an associate professor in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Charlene Burgeson is Active Schools Executive Director of Action for Healthy Kids in Chicago, IL. Howell Wechsler is former CEO of Alliance for a Healthier Generation in New York, NY.