Physical Education (PE)
Physical Education (PE) is considered the cornerstone of a school-based comprehensive physical activity
program. It provides the basis and opportunity for young people to gain the knowledge and skills
needed to maintain physically active lifestyles throughout childhood and into adulthood. A quality PE
program can increase student participation in physical activity, increase their physical fitness,270 and
enhance their understanding about the purpose and methods of physical activity.
271 Participation in
daily PE is associated with an increased likelihood of participating regularly in moderate to vigorous
physical activity.
272
The evidence strongly supports the correlation between school-based PE and increasing physical activity
rates. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services is an independent, non-federal, volunteer body
of public health and prevention experts tasked with reviewing evidence for interventions, providing
recommendations that promote health, and identifying areas for further research. This group reviewed
the literature and found that enhanced, school-based PE is an effective strategy for increasing physical
activity among young people.
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The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends daily PE from kindergarten
through grade 12, suggesting 150 minutes per week for elementary schools and 225 minutes per week
for secondary schools.
274 Pursuant to their findings, a quality PE program should: