Gooding Jt. School District #231
INSTRUCTION 2315
Physical Activity Opportunities and Physical Education (PE)
Daily Physical Education (PE) K-5
All students in grades K-5, including students with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and those in alternative educational settings, will participate in physical education (PE) (or its equivalent) for the entire school year. The District shall strive to provide an amount of PE instruction consistent with the NASPE recommendations, to the extent feasible. All PE will be taught by a certified PE teacher. Student involvement in other activities involving physical activity, such as interscholastic or intramural sports, will not be substituted for meeting the PE requirement. Students will spend at least 50 percent of PE class time participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Integrating Physical Activity into the Classroom Setting
For students to receive the nationally-recommended amount of daily physical activity, at least 60 minutes per day, and for students to fully embrace regular physical activity as a personal behavior, students need opportunities for physical activity beyond PE class. Toward that end:
- Classroom health education will complement PE by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically-active lifestyle and to reduce time spent on sedentary activities, such as watching television;
- Opportunities for physical activity will be incorporated into other subject lessons; and
- Classroom teachers will provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate
Daily Recess
All elementary school students will have at least 20 minutes each day of supervised recess, preferably outdoors, during which schools should encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity verbally and through the provision of space and equipment.
Schools should discourage extended periods (i.e., periods of two or more hours) of inactivity. When activities such as mandatory school-wide testing make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, schools should give students periodic breaks during which they will be encouraged to stand and be moderately active.
Physical Activity and Punishment
Teachers and other school and community personnel will not use physical activity, such as running laps or push-ups, as punishment.
Cross Reference: 8200 Local School Wellness
Legal Reference: I.C. § 33-512 Governance of Schools
Policy History:
Adopted on:8/12/25
Revised on:
Reviewed on: