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Florida Virtual School Physical Education Policy

Sections 1001.11(7) and 1003.453(2) of the Florida Statutes require that every school district have a current version of its Physical Education Policy on the district website. This document satisfies that requirement.

Florida law defines "physical education" to mean:

"…the development or maintenance of skills related to strength, agility, flexibility, movement, and stamina, including dance; the development of knowledge and skills regarding teamwork and fair play; the development of knowledge and skills regarding nutrition and physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle; and the development of positive attitudes regarding sound nutrition and physical activity as a component of personal well-being."

Florida Virtual School courses are designed to develop overall health and well-being through structured learning experiences, appropriate instruction, and meaningful content. FLVS provides a quality Physical Education program in which students can experience success and develop positive attitudes about physical activity so that they can adopt healthy and physically active lifestyles. Programs are flexible to accommodate individual student interests and activity levels in a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate, safe, and supportive.

The FLVS Program

FLVS offers the following Physical Education courses:

• Physical Education Grades K-5
• M/J Comprehensive PE, grades 6/7
• M/J Comprehensive PE, grades 7/8
• M/J Fitness, grade 6
• Adaptive Physical Education IEP or 504 Plan
• Fitness Lifestyle Design
• Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE)
• Life Management Skills
• Personal Fitness

The 2007 legislative session in FL pass House Bill 967, a Physical Education bill, that included the following:

• Defines "PE" as "the development and maintenance of skills related to strength, agility, flexibility, movement, and stamina, including dance; the development of knowledge and skills regarding teamwork and fair play; the development of knowledge and skills regarding nutrition and physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle; and the development of positive attitudes regarding sound nutrition and physical activity as a component of personal well-being."
• Requires 150 minutes of PE per week for grades K-5.
• Students enrolled in physical education instruction shall be reported through the periodic student membership survey.
• Records of enrollment in physical education instruction shall be audited pursuant to s. 1010.305, F.S.
• Defines those individuals approved to teach PE in grades K-5 as instructional personnel defined in section 1012.01(2), F.S., regardless of certification, who are designated by the school principal. This includes classroom teachers, student services personnel, librarians/media specialists, other instructional staff, and paraprofessionals.
• Requires Sunshine State Standards (SSS) for PE to be reviewed and revised during the 2007-08 school year to reflect state-of-the-art philosophy and practice. The revised standards shall emphasize the role of physical education in promoting the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that prepare students to make healthy lifelong nutrition and physical fitness choices.

Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year, the equivalent of one class period per day of physical education for one semester each year is required for middle school students (grades 6 through 8). To satisfy the one semester requirement for middle school students, the physical education provided must "consist of physical activities of at least a moderate intensity level and for a duration sufficient to provide a significant health benefit to students, subject to the differing capabilities of students." All FLVS PE courses are taught by certified instructional personnel. A high school student selecting the traditional 24-credit graduation option must earn one credit in physical education. For students entering 9th grade in or after the 2007-08 academic year, credit for physical education must include the integration of health education. A student selecting one of the accelerated 18-credit graduation options or the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Curriculum is not required to earn physical education credit.

To meet the one-credit requirement for students entering high school in or after the 2007-2008 academic year, DOE has established three course options. A school district may choose from among these three options:

• Option 1. A one-half-credit course in personal fitness and one-half-credit course in a physical education elective (taught by teachers certified in physical education);
• Option 2. The one-credit Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE) Core course (co-taught by a teacher certified in physical education and a teacher certified in health education or taught by a teacher dually certified in both physical education and health education); or
• Option 3. The one-credit HOPE Physical Education Variation course (taught by a teacher certified in physical education).
  A school district may not require a student to take these physical education courses in 9th grade.

In addition to the physical activities described in the lessons, students have the option to participate in Yoga or individual or team sport.

FLVS students enrolled part time in FLVS, taking a FLVS PE course, should consult with their district of enrollment to determine specific district policy.

Expected Program Outcomes

Each school district is responsible for developing a physical education program that stresses physical fitness; encourages healthy, active lifestyles; and encourages all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 to participate in physical education. At FLVS we take this responsibility seriously, actively working with our students to ensure that they are meeting the FL Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for health and fitness. These standards may be found at:

• http://www.floridastandards.org/homepage/index.aspx
• http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/standards/nationalStandards/PEstandards.cfm

Benefits of Physical Education

Proper physical education has lifelong benefits.

1. It teaches about healthy nutrition and eating habits to ensure we are providing our bodies with the right mix of nutritional ingredients.
2. It promotes an active lifestyle to develop and maintain motor skills useful in all walks of life.
3. It teaches us about our bodies and how to keep them healthy and working throughout our lifetime.
4. It teaches about and motivates to adopt ethical behaviors through participating in sporting activities.
5. It provides a much needed outlet for mental and physical stress.

How to Choose the Right Physical Education Program for You

FLVS serves a wide variety of students so it's impossible for us to provide a "one size fits all" guide. If you are enrolled in another public school district or private school and are taking courses at FLVS part time, please consult with the school counselor at your school of enrollment to determine what will be required by your school. If you are enrolled in a district VIP program, taking all of your courses online, please consult with your district school counselor as well. If you are enrolled with FLVS full-time, our school counselors will be pleased to assist you and can be reached at the FLVS Student Advisement Center.