Now That We're “Well Rounded,” Let's Commit to Quality Physical Education Assessment

Abstract

With the authorization of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015, the role of physical education in public schools has the potential to change significantly. It is imperative that physical education be supported by assessment-driven evidence in order to reach and speak to legislators, national boards, school administrators, educators and the students themselves. However, with only 32.7 percent of states requiring student assessments that directly relate to state physical education standards, there is currently little accountability for physical educators, programs and students to meet the requirements of comprehensive, skills-based physical education. To increase the perceived value of physical education and justify its importance as a part of students' well-rounded education, physical educators need to examine the means by which they define, measure and report student achievement in the physical education setting, and commit to developing and implementing quality assessment.