Chapter 4 , Teacher Certification, and other state requirements for Health and Physical Education in PA

§ 4.11. Purpose of public education.�

• (d)  The academic standards describe the knowledge and skills that students will be expected to demonstrate before graduating from a public school.
•  (e)  Achievement of high academic standards in public education is dependent upon the quality of instruction in schools and student effort supported by the involvement of family and community.
•  (f)  Assessment in public education is designed to determine student attainment of State and local academic standards.
•  (g)  Public schools provide instruction throughout the curriculum so that students may develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:
• (8)  Health, safety and physical education.

Academic Standards/Student Achievement/Assessment/Curriculum

§ 4.11. Purpose of public education.

 (h)  Public education provides planned instruction to enable students to attain academic standards under §  4.12. Planned instruction consists of at least the following elements:

• Objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies to be achieved by all students.
• Content, including materials and activities, and estimated instructional time to be devoted to achieving the academic standards. Courses, instructional units or interdisciplinary studies of varying lengths of time may be taught.
• The relationship between the objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies and academic standards specified under §  4.12 and any additional academic standards as determined by the school entity.
• Procedures for measurement of the objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies.

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Objectives/Content/Assessments

 4.12. Academic standards.�

• (a)  School entities may develop, expand or improve existing academic standards in the following content areas:

 (6)  Health, safety and physical education. Study of concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, physical fitness, movement concepts and strategies, safety in physical activity settings, and leadership and cooperation in physical activities.

4.12. Academic standards.

•  (b)  In designing educational programs, school entities shall provide for the attainment of the academic standards under subsections (a) and (c) and any additional academic standards as determined by the school entity. Attaining the academic standards in this section requires students to demonstrate the acquisition and application of knowledge.
•  (c)  School entities shall prepare students to attain academic standards in mathematics and English Language Arts in Appendix A-2 and incorporated here by reference and additional standards as may be adopted by the Board and promulgated as amendments to this chapter.
•  (d)  A school entity’s curriculum shall be designed to provide students with planned instruction needed to attain these academic standards.
•  (e)  School entities shall apply academic standards for students in all areas described under subsections (a) and (c). The local assessment plan under §  4.52 (relating to local assessment system) must include a description of how the academic standards will be measured and how information from the assessments is used to assist students having difficulty meeting the academic standards.

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Curriculum/Assessment

 4.23. High school education.�

• (a)  Instruction in the high school program must focus on the development of abilities needed to succeed in work and advanced education through planned instruction.
•  (b)  Curriculum and instruction in the high school must be standards-based and provide all students opportunities to develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem-solving and information literacy.

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4.23. High school education.

•  (c)  Planned instruction aligned with academic standards in the following areas shall be provided to every student in the high school program. Planned instruction may be provided as a separate course or as an instructional unit within a course or other interdisciplinary instructional activity:
• (8)  Health, safety and physical education, including instruction in concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, physical fitness, movement concepts, motor skill development, safety in physical activity settings, and the prevention of alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse.

§ 4.27. Physical education and athletics.�

•  (a)  Physical education shall be taught as required under § §  4.21(e)(6) and (f)(8), 4.22(c)(7) and 4.23(c)(8) (relating to elementary education: primary and intermediate levels; middle level education; and high school education).
•  (b)  The physical education program must be adapted for students who are medically unable to participate in the regular physical education program.
•  (c)  The physical education program shall provide coeducational instruction, except that separation by sex may be permitted in courses involving contact sports. Separation by sex may not be used to exclude students of either sex from participating in any physical education instruction.

Teacher Certification

• ​CSPG 47 - Health and Health and Physical Education (K-12) (pa.gov)

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• Health and Physical Education (pa.gov)

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Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification

• Grade Level Scope of Certificate
• A person holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for health education or health and physical education is qualified to teach all courses in grades PK-12.

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Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification

• Certification Assignment
• An educator holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Health and Physical Education (Code 4805) is qualified to teach: health; kinesiology; motor skill development and motor learning; group interactions; personal fitness; principles of exercise and training; the effects of physical activity on the body systems; games and sports; lifetime leisure skills; dance and rhythmic activities; outdoor skills and activities; and adaptive physical education and swimming/aquatics.
• An educator holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Health (Code 4810) is qualified to teach: human anatomy and physiology; human growth and development; human sexuality; personal health; nutrition, weight control and eating disorders; alcohol, tobacco and chemical substance abuse; mental and emotional health; personal hygiene; consumer health related information, products, services, and consumer choices; first aid, safety and prevention; diseases and disorders, HIV/AIDS education; community health; and violence prevention.

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No Waivers

• Health and Physical Education (pa.gov)

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• **Please Note: Neither the Pennsylvania School Code nor the State Board of Education allows for waivers for students from the requirements of health and physical education due to participation in a physical activity, such as interscholastic sports, band or ROTC. Physical activity is only one component of physical education and physical activity does not meet all of the requirements and standards of physical education.