State policy does not specify a number of students per class or teacher-to-student ratio in physical education classes.
Physical education instruction must adhere to the District of Columbia Physical Education Standards, with at least 50 percent of instructional time in moderate-to-vigorous activity (D.C. Code § 38–821.01[6C]). Health education includes mandatory CPR instruction for Grades 9–12 and culturally responsive education on consent, boundaries, and child abuse for Grades K–12 (D.C. Code § 38–824.02[b-1], [b-2]).
District of Columbia regulations exempt evening program high school diplomas from the 1.5 Carnegie unit health and physical education requirement and also permit Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or charter schools to apply for a waiver of the Carnegie Unit structure to award competency-based credits (5-A DCMR § 2203.3[g]; 5-A DCMR § 2203.7). Additionally, participation of pregnant students in physical education may be conditioned on a physician’s certification of physical ability (5-E DCMR § 2000.7).
Schools must strive for 60 minutes of daily physical activity for all students by integrating movement into classrooms, extracurricular programming, and two 20-minute recesses daily for Grades K–8 (weather/space permitting; D.C. Code § 38–824.01(a); D.C. Code § 38–824.02[a][1–2]). Physical activity breaks during meetings are encouraged to promote movement (D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 22, § 22-B11102.1). Schools are strictly prohibited from using physical activity as a form of punishment or withholding physical activity for disciplinary reasons (D.C. Code § 38–824.03[b]).
Although statewide fitness assessments are not explicitly mandated, the focus on compliance with physical education and physical activity goals, combined with § 38–824.02(a)(3); § 38–824.05, tasks the OSSE with ensuring standards are met through reporting and oversight. Schools must report physical education/health data via the annual School Health Profiles (including the average weekly physical education minutes by grade and how physical activity is promoted). The OSSE must biennially report on compliance with physical education/PA requirements and student achievement relative to physical education/health standards.
State regulations do not explicitly address the maintenance, purchase, or storage of physical education equipment and facilities.
D.C. law does not expressly regulate online physical education. Any physical education course must still meet State Board standards and any LEA credit policies applicable to graduation (D.C. Code § 38–824.02[d]; 5-A DCMR § 2203).
Physical education is a recognized OSSE credential sub-specialization (Physical Education, PreK–12). In addition, physical education teachers engaged in athletic activity are subject to concussion-training requirements (5-A DCMR § 1602.1[x]; 22-B DCMR § 620.2–.5, .99).
Students with disabilities must participate in general physical education settings whenever feasible, except when specially designed instruction is prescribed in an IEP (D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 5, § 5-A3014.3).
Schools must submit School Health Profiles annually, reporting physical education, nutrition, and health compliance to the OSSE (D.C. Code § 38–826.02[a]). Noncompliant schools may lose eligibility for Healthy Schools Fund grants (D.C. Code § 38–826.02[e]).
Each school is required to maintain compliance with its local wellness policy and ensure its availability online or in school offices (D.C. Code § 38–826.01[a]-[d]).
There are no regulations regarding teacher evaluations for physical education instructors.
Recent updates include integrating classroom movement to increase physical activity (D.C. Code § 38–824.01[c]).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to LEAs through curriculum standards and graduation requirements. Regulations include enforcement provisions with oversight by the OSSE. Noncompliance may result in corrective actions or loss of eligibility for funding programs such as the Healthy Schools Fund (D.C. Code § 38–826.02[a], § 38–826.02[e]).
For more details, call the Office of the State Superintendent of Education at (202) 727–6436, email osse@dc.gov, or go to 1050 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.