State policy does not specify a number of students per class or teacher-to-student ratio in physical education classes.
The physical education curriculum must align with Pennsylvania’s academic standards, ensuring instruction in physical fitness, safety, and wellness. Schools must provide coeducational instruction, with adaptations for students with medical conditions (22 Pa. Code § 4.27; 24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 15-1512.1).
Physical education programs must be adapted for students who are medically unable to participate in the regular curriculum. However, there are no specific provisions addressing substitutions or waivers for non-medical reasons (22 Pa. Code § 4.27[b]).
The Pennsylvania Child Wellness Plan includes recommendations for integrating physical activity in schools, but specific daily recess requirements are not detailed. School districts are encouraged to develop wellness policies that support physical activity initiatives (24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 14–1422.2).
There is no explicit mention of statewide fitness assessments required for students in the regulations.
Private schools must provide appropriate facilities and equipment to support physical education instruction. The regulations include provisions for equipment and fixtures such as portable physical education equipment and instructional materials, but storage guidelines are not detailed. The public-school chapters cited require physical education to be taught but do not prescribe physical education-specific facility/equipment standards (22 Pa. Code § 57.21; § 4.21–4.23, § 4.27).
Regulations do not explicitly address online physical education courses. There are no direct provisions, exceptions, or enabling mechanisms in state code or administrative rules that permit or describe online or distance learning for physical education. Implementation of online physical education is neither expressly allowed nor directly prohibited and would be at the discretion of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) if all state standards and requirements are met.
Physical education must be taught by a certified professional educator holding a Pennsylvania certification. Instructors for CPR instruction may include professional educators certified in physical education or health education, but the regulations do not specify requirements for adapted physical education certification or endorsements (24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 15–1528).
Physical education programs must provide coeducational instruction and cannot exclude students based on gender, except for contact sports. Equal access must be provided to school facilities, coaching, equipment, and funding for interscholastic and intramural sports (22 Pa. Code § 4.27).
The Pennsylvania Child Wellness Plan integrates recommendations on funding for physical education and wellness programs, but no specific state-level funding allocations for physical education are detailed (24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 14–1422.2).
School districts are required to develop wellness policies incorporating physical education and activity in alignment with federal requirements. Advisory health councils may be established to oversee wellness initiatives and provide recommendations (24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 14–1422).
Regulations do not specify evaluation criteria for physical educators.
The Pennsylvania Child Wellness Plan emphasizes the integration of nutrition and physical activity policies in schools. Recent legislative updates reinforce coeducational access to physical education and interscholastic sports (24 Pa. Uncons. Stat. § 14–1422.2).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to LEAs through state curriculum standards and graduation requirements. Regulations include enforcement provisions such as review by the Department of Education, and possible designation of nonstandard status for noncompliance. They do not include specific penalties for noncompliance.
For more details, call the Pennsylvania Department of Education at (717) 783–6788, email ra-edps@pa.gov, or go to 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126.