1. Adapted Physical
Education
Refer to the students Individualized Education Program and
allow parents to provide input into their child's involvement in activity based
programs.
2. Approved
Curriculum
a. Instruction in physical
education must be based on state standards for physical education as provided
in the Mississippi Physical Education Framework.
b. Instruction integrated by the regular
classroom teacher may include the Health in Action web based lesson plan
resource provided by the Mississippi Department of Education's Office of
Healthy Schools.
c. Instruction in
physical education or activity based instruction by regular education teacher
or licensed physical education teacher can be based on curriculum identified in
the Supplemental Resource Providers List that is based on state
standards.
d. Instruction in health
education must be based on state standards for health education as provided in
the Mississippi Comprehensive Health Framework.
3. Class Size
a.
Grades K-5
i. It is recommended that in grades K-5 the
student to teacher ratio for physical education shall not exceed 35 to 1. If
there is a licensed teacher and a teacher assistant, it is recommended the
maximum class size for physical education shall not exceed 70
students.
b.
Grades 6-12
i. It is
recommended that in Grades 6-12 the maximum class size for physical education
shall not exceed 40 students per licensed staff. If there is a licensed teacher
and a teacher assistant, it is recommended the maximum class size should not
exceed 80 students.
ii. Class size
should not apply to extracurricular activities such as band, JROTC, and show
choir.
iii. Mississippi Public
School Accountability Standard 28 does not apply to Physical Education or
Health Education. This standard applies to core academic subjects (English,
Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and
the Arts) as defined by No Child Left Behind and Level Four and Level Five
schools meeting the highest two levels of performance are exempt from this
standard.
4.
Course Codes
a. The following course codes
should be used for instruction in physical education and health education:
i. 349902 Physical Education, Grades PK -
6
ii. 340111 Physical Education,
Grades 7 - 8
iii. 340113 Physical
Education, Grades 9 - 12
iv. 905143
Physical Education, Dual Credit
v.
349901 Health Education, Grades K-8
vi. 340131 Health Education, Grade
7
vii. 340132 Health Education,
Grade 8
viii. 340133 Health
Education Grades 9-12
ix. 340138
Distance Learning, Grades 9-12
x.
905133 Dual Credit 9-12
b. Any instruction that meets the
requirements of the Rules and Regulations for Physical Education or Health
Education should be coded as such. This instruction also includes programs that
are offered after school and meet the requirements for instruction in physical
education.
c. The dual credit
physical education course code can only be used by those high schools that have
a signed articulation agreement between the district and postsecondary
institute using the template suggested by MDE. One high school Carnegie unit is
equal to six college hours of credit.
5. Equipment
a. The Suggested Equipment List is located on
the MDE website. All teachers designated to provide instruction in physical
education must have access to a computer.
6. Facility
a. Minimum
Designated area for instruction- If this is an outside area,
the area must be adequately maintained to ensure safety and facilitate
participation by all students. Storage space must also be provided for
equipment.
b. Adequate
Indoor classroom, designated outside area, and storage space
should be provided for equipment.
c. Exemplary
Gym space is available for physical education classes.
Storage space must also be provided for equipment.
7. Fitness Testing
Students must participate in fitness testing using the
FITNESSGRAM, ACTIVITYGRAM, President's Challenge to Physical Fitness, or other
comparable program. This assessment must be conducted in grade 5 and the grade
in which the student will earn the 1/2 Carnegie unit requirement for
graduation. The time required to conduct the fitness assessment would count
toward the minutes required for minimum implementation for physical
education.
8. School Health
Councils
All schools must have established a school health council and
the physical education and comprehensive health staff must serve on this
council. Duties of this council must include, but not be limited to, conducting
a needs assessment and making recommendations based on a coordinated approach
to school health. The Office of Healthy Schools recommends the School Health
Index as a resource/tool for each council to use for conducting this
assessment.
9. Staff
a. Physical education instruction in grades
K-8 shall be provided by a licensed physical education teacher, regular
classroom teacher, or other staff licensed by the Mississippi Department of
Education.
b. Physical education
instruction in grades 9-12 shall be provided by a licensed physical education
teacher.
c. School districts are
encouraged to develop ongoing relationships with Institutions of Higher
Learning to allow students receiving degrees from an approved teacher
preparation program an opportunity to assist with instruction in physical
education programs.
10.
Student Assessment
Staff shall use the suggested assessment as provided in the
Mississippi Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education Frameworks
and in the Health in Action web-based resource.
11. Waivers/Exemptions
a. In grades K-12 there shall be no
exemptions from physical education except for a medical exemption provided by a
physician. The following guidelines must be followed:
i. A physician must complete a Medical
Release Form provided by the school.
a) the
school must keep the completed form on file.
b. In grades 7-12 extracurricular activities
sanctioned by the MHSAA and JROTC can be substituted for physical education if:
i. attendance is kept; and
ii. instruction is based on at least one
competency from the Mississippi Physical Education Framework; and
iii. Staff licensed by Mississippi Department
of Education supervises practices and games.
c. In grades 9-12 successful completion of
the first two JROTC courses can substitute for the required 1/2 Carnegie unit
in health education if:
i. instruction
includes all of the health components included in the JROTC I and JROTC II
curriculums; and,
ii. the JROTC
teachers are licensed by the Mississippi Department of Education with the 499
endorsement code.
