Shape of the Nation Report

Status of Physical Education in the USA

The 2012 Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA provides a current picture of physical education in the American education system. The 2012 survey finds areas of both improvement and decline since the 2010 Shape of the Nation Report. Thirty-eight states, 74.5%, mandate physical education in elementary, middle/high, and high school, but most do not require a specific amount of instructional time and more than half allow exemptions, waivers, and/or substitutions.

Only 6 six states
require PE in
grades K-12.

Almost half of
U.S. students
do not receive
PE in an average
week.

Obesity will
cost the U.S. an
estimated $344
billion by 2018.

Recess is
required for
elementary
school students
in only 9 states.

Fourteen states
require fitness
assessments.

Read the report

Full report here >>
Table of Contents here >>
Executive Summary here >>
Quick facts here >>

View charts

State Standards for Physical Education here >>
Key State Physical Education Policies and Practices here >>
State Requirements for Teacher Certification/Licensure in Physical
Education here >>
State Requirements for Student Assessment in Physical Education here >>
Supplemental Data Tables here >>

Report highlights

Highlights flyer here >>
Only six states (Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Vermont) require physical education in every grade, K-12.
Fifty states have their own state standards for physical education, only Iowa has not adopted state standards.
Only 26 states (51%) require some form of student assessment in physical education.
Fifty-nine percent of states (30) allow required physical education credits to be earned through online physical education courses.
Twice as many states (28 vs. 14 in 2010) require physical education grades to be included in students' grade point averages.
Fourteen states (27%) require schools/school districts to perform fitness assessments.
Only 11 states prohibit the practice of withholding physical activity, including recess, as punishment and prohibit the use of physical activity as punishment for inappropriate behavior or for disciplinary reasons.

Choose your state profile

...

Fighting Childhood Obesity Should be a Priority

lets-move-with-first-lady At a time when the First Lady is highlighting the obesity epidemic among our youth and the role that schools can play, physical education should be given a priority in public and education policy.

Visit the AAHPERD Legislative Action Center to contact your legislators in support of physical education. Find out what you can do to end this serious epidemic.

Status of Physical Education in the USA

Only 6 six states require PE in grades K-12.

Almost half of U.S. students do not receive PE in an average week.

Obesity will cost the U.S. an estimated $344 billion by 2018.

Recess is required for elementary school studentsin only 9 states.Fourteen statesrequire fitnessassessments.