Indianapolis Public Schools Physical Education & Health Department provides leadership through continuing professional development and advocacy that ensures effective delivery of evidence-informed school physical education and health and physical activity programs that foster healthy, active, and physically literate youth.
Physical Education encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, physical fitness, motor skills, social skills and positive attitudes that foster and empower students to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.
The framework in Physical Education is a guiding document for Physical Education curriculum and instruction across the district in an effort to create high quality physical education. High quality PE is the cornerstone of a Comprehensive school Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) CSPAP defines an academic program subject, which results in all students, including those with disabilities, developing the knowledge, skill, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle. The K-12 PE learning standards found in our framework spiral and ensure students will develop skills in sports, recreation, fitness, leadership and working in teams. These skills develop student competence, a critical predictor of involvement in life-long physical activity. PE is the only place where all students are provided with the instruction they need to develop these skills.
Our effort on the elementary level is to form a foundation for the development of a physically educated person. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education defines a physically educated individual as one who:
- Has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities.
- Is physically fit.
- Participates regularly in physical activity.
- Knows the implications and benefits of involvement in physical activities.
- Values physical activity and its contribution to a healthful lifestyle.
Health Education Framework encompasses a strong commitment in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that engages students in learning the skills they need to live a healthy lives, that delivers standards at the national, state and local standards and frameworks.
Health Education top priorities will be:
- Implementing a sequential, comprehensive curriculum- aligned with the National Health Education Standards and other relevant frameworks- that is skill-based, with an emphasis on developing health literacy
- Employing instructional practices that engage students in learning and in developing their health-related skills
- Using assessments that measure student growth, knowledge and health-related skill development
- Advocating for a positive school culture toward health and health education
- Maintaining high standards of practice