There are no mandated caps but recommended physical education class sizes are a student-to-teacher ratio of 35:1 (or 70:1 with a teaching assistant) for Grades K–5 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 40:1 (80:1 with a teaching assistant) for Grades 6–12. Accountability Standard 28 does not apply to physical education/health (3–38.12.1[3]).
Physical education programs must align with the Mississippi Physical Education Framework, emphasizing motor skills, fitness, and lifetime activity participation. The curriculum also includes activity-based instruction integrated with classroom lessons (Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12).
Extracurricular activities such as sports and marching band may substitute for physical education in both middle and high school, with the addition of JROTC in high school if it meets state standards, with attendance and competencies documented. Medical exemptions are allowed with a completed physician’s form (Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12(2)(c), Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12.1[11][a]).
Elementary and middle school students must participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, which may include recess or other activity-based programs. High school programs must include physical activity within the physical education curriculum (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134).
Fitness testing is required in Grade 5 and in the high school grade where students earn their physical education Carnegie credit. Schools may use programs such as FitnessGram or the President’s Youth Fitness Program (Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12).
Schools must provide adequate indoor and outdoor facilities for physical education, including safe and well-maintained equipment. Storage space must also be available (Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12.1).
Regulations do not explicitly mention online physical education, but they include indirect provisions that may allow Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to deliver physical education through online instructional formats if aligned with state standards and approved locally by the principal (Miss. Admin. Code 7-24-A-6).
Physical education may be instructed by a licensed physical education teacher, a regular classroom teacher, or other staff holding a valid Mississippi teaching license. Adapted physical education (APE) must be provided by teachers with appropriate qualifications if prescribed in the student’s IEP (34-B-300.108,Miss. Admin. Code 3–38.12.1[a]-[b]).
Students with disabilities must have access to APE as specified in their IEP. These programs must align with the Mississippi Physical Education Framework (Miss. Admin. Code 34-B-300.108).
The Mississippi Department of Education supports funding for physical education programs through grants, including the School Health Grant Pilot Program, to improve physical education and activity initiatives (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134.1).
Each school board must establish a local school health council to guide and adopt wellness plans that promote physical activity, nutrition, and health education. These councils must include representatives from various community groups. Federal local wellness policy requirements apply to the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program LEAs as well (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134, 7 C.F.R. §210.31).
Regulations do not specify evaluation criteria or processes for specific evaluation of physical education teachers.
Recent updates emphasize fitness testing in Grade 5, the incorporation of activity-based instruction, and the establishment of local school health councils (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to LEAs through curriculum standards and graduation requirements and establishing a procedure for monitoring adherence. The regulations include enforcement provisions such as required minutes of physical education, school- and district-level wellness policies, mandated annual fitness assessments, and compliance monitoring by the Mississippi Department of Education. The state physical activity coordinator must monitor districts for standards and physical education curriculum implementation. Regulations do not include specific penalties for noncompliance (Miss. Code §37-13-134[1][c], [8]).
For more details, contact the Mississippi Department of Education at (601) 359–3513, email mdeinfo@mdek12. org, or go to 359 North West Street, Jackson, MS 39201.