Question

What are the State of Georgia Physical Education requirements?

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I am in the OT thesis group for Healthy Lifestyle. In our lit review I refer to the Georgia SHAPE Act. And I was trying to find the State of Georgia Physical Education requirements. I keep finding websites that tell me 90 hrs for elementary and so on but I haven't been able to find an actual credible source that states the State Requirements. I didn't know if you knew of any other ways I could find it. Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

Answered By: Linda Kern
Last Updated: Dec 12, 2016     Views: 2285

This was a challenge! 
The SHAPE act (http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/hb229.htm) amended the official State of GA legal requirement for the minimum standards for PE education.
This act is codified in  the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Title 20, Chapter 2, Article 16, Part 3. You can find the Code at  http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/Default.asp ; Lexis is the official source for accessing the code online. Begin with Title 20, and click on the little + symbols to open the chapter and article progressively. Then you can click on the part to read it. 
Part 3 refers to rules and regulations established pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-142 for the minimum instruction in physical education prescribed by the State Board of Education.
 
Section 20-2-142 states "The State Board of Education shall prescribe a course of study in health and physical education for all grades and grade levels in the public schools and shall establish minimum time requirements and standards for its administration."
So on to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education rules are published at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_board.aspx?PageReq=PEABoardRules&oby=EffectiveDate&ord=dsc&st= . Among them is rule 160-4-2-12, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Program Plan, effective 10 Aug 2011. This reg is THE ONE that specifies 90 minutes, plus the remaining requirements of school districts. It is available at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.12.pdf .
Information for citing these sources is found at APA p. 220, ex. 10 and p. 223 section A7.06.
If you are interested in the performance standards (competencies) defined for physical education by the DOE, these are available at https://www.georgiastandards.org/Standards/Pages/BrowseStandards/PhysEd.aspx .
Phew!
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