State policy does not specify a number of students per class or teacher-to-student ratio in physical education classes.
Physical education follows the Virginia Standards of Learning and includes health-related fitness, skill-related fitness, and developmentally appropriate movement skills. Curriculums must align with proficiency-based learning requirements and emphasize lifelong fitness (8VAC20-543-330). Each local school board shall provide as a part of physical or health education instruction provided to students in Grades 9 and 10 research-based hazing prevention instruction in accordance with the Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines.
High school students may fulfill physical education requirements through participation in JROTC (Virginia Code § 22.1–253.13:1; HB 98, Chapter 433).
Schools must implement a program of physical activity available to all K–12 students, which may include physical education classes, recess, athletics, or other activities consisting of at least 20 minutes per day or an average of 100 minutes per week for Grades K–5 or at least 150 minutes per week for Grades 6–12. Any physical education class offered in Grades 7–8 must include at least one hour of personal safety training per year in partnership with local law enforcement (Virginia Code § 22.1–253.13:1[D][15]).
No explicit fitness assessment requirements for students were found in the regulations; however, the Department of Education shall develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database. The database shall contain the results of any wellness-related fitness testing done by local school divisions, 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 (Virginia Code Sec. 22.1-16.4).
The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of General Services, work together to develop or adopt and maintain a data collection tool to assist each school board to determine the relative age of each public school building in the local school division and the amount of maintenance reserve funds that are necessary to restore each such building. Although physical education facilities are not specifically mentioned under this provision, physical education facilities are listed as part of a “school building” (Chapter 2, HB 6001 Budget Bill).
No specific policy indicates online physical education is acceptable or prohibited; however, it is stated in regulations that research-based hazing prevention instruction must be offered in person to students in Grades 9 and 10 with options for virtual participation for any student who is enrolled in an online or virtual physical or health education program (Chapter 7, SB 379).
Physical education teachers must hold a Virginia teaching license with a physical education endorsement, which requires a baccalaureate degree and coursework in health and physical education. Certification also requires coursework in adapted physical education, human nutrition, and assessment methods (8VAC20-23–380).
Physical education services, including specially designed instruction, if necessary, must be available to students with disabilities as part of their free appropriate public education (FAPE). Students must be provided opportunities to participate in regular physical education unless their IEP requires specialized instruction (8VAC20-81-100; 34 CFR 300.108).
No specific state funding allocations for K–12 physical education programs, facilities, or equipment were found in the regulations.
Each local school division may develop policies for improving student wellness, but there is no statewide requirement for local wellness policies incorporating physical activity (Virginia Code § 22.1-16.4).
Teacher evaluations shall include regular observation and evidence that instruction is aligned with the school’s curriculum. Evaluations shall include identification of areas of individual strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for appropriate professional activities (Chapter 502, SB 220).
Recent changes include allowing JROTC participation to satisfy high school physical education requirements and requiring personal safety training in middle school physical education classes (Virginia Code § 22.1–253.13:1).
Regulations assign responsibility for physical education policy implementation to Local Education Agencies and include indirect state oversight through general curriculum and graduation requirements. The regulations do not include specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties related to physical education or physical activity policy compliance.
For more details, call the Virginia Department of Education at (804) 225–2023, email DOEinfo@doe.virginia.gov, or go to James Monroe Building, 101 N. 14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219.