Elementary PE

[Anonymous]

If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

If there are really only 13 classes in the school, then you're right that that is ridiculous. The teacher is only teaching 2-3 periods/day? They don't have other obligations?

Our school has two PE teachers for exactly this reason (but we also have 29 classes). However, I do know that they can get away with supervised recess counting as PE as long as it's on top of the mandatory 20 minutes of recess... so if they're giving kids 30 minutes recess/day, they're probably claiming 50 minutes that way.

[Anonymous]

Schools can also get a waiver for the PE requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

If there are really only 13 classes in the school, then you're right that that is ridiculous. The teacher is only teaching 2-3 periods/day? They don't have other obligations?

Our school has two PE teachers for exactly this reason (but we also have 29 classes). However, I do know that they can get away with supervised recess counting as PE as long as it's on top of the mandatory 20 minutes of recess... so if they're giving kids 30 minutes recess/day, they're probably claiming 50 minutes that way.

Yeah-I’m not sure how any of the specialists are considered full time teachers to be honest. If the teacher has the time (and again, veteran parents who know more than me have expressed their frustration and know the scheduling) for the full 90 minutes- that’s what they should be getting. The only responsibilities they have in addition is covering classes for teachers who might be out, but if that’s the case, there are other specialists with more than enough time as well to cover those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

How many grades are involved in 13 classes? I'm assuming they get a prep for each grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

If there are really only 13 classes in the school, then you're right that that is ridiculous. The teacher is only teaching 2-3 periods/day? They don't have other obligations?

Our school has two PE teachers for exactly this reason (but we also have 29 classes). However, I do know that they can get away with supervised recess counting as PE as long as it's on top of the mandatory 20 minutes of recess... so if they're giving kids 30 minutes recess/day, they're probably claiming 50 minutes that way.

Yeah-I’m not sure how any of the specialists are considered full time teachers to be honest. If the teacher has the time (and again, veteran parents who know more than me have expressed their frustration and know the scheduling) for the full 90 minutes- that’s what they should be getting. The only responsibilities they have in addition is covering classes for teachers who might be out, but if that’s the case, there are other specialists with more than enough time as well to cover those.

But your "they should" and the teacher "has the time" is totally different than legally required, which is what you led with. In the first example, you can't really complain to anyone except your own school. Is this a DCPS school? Maybe you could try the IS or Chancellor, but lots of schools do this same thing, so I doubt it would help much. In the second example, complaining more widely might actually get traction with, e.g., the Council. So it matters what is actually going on...

[Anonymous]

I think most DCPS ES's only have 45 minutes of PE per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not mistaken, aren't elementary students required to have 90 minutes of PE per week? My kid just started a new school and they only get 45 minutes per week even though the PE teacher has more than enough time in her schedule to provide the 90 minutes. Who do I contact about this because clearly the principal is in violation here if that is district policy.

The policy is 90 mins of "health and physical education" - so they may be counting something else as the other 45 minutes.

But also - how do you know the PE teacher has time in their schedule?

I've spoken with other parents at the school who have apparently complained for years about this. There are 13 classes at 45 minutes apiece which amounts to 9.75 hours of teaching-there is time. Most teachers are at 20 hours or more. Health/PE is combined into the once a week 45 minute blocks.

How many grades are involved in 13 classes? I'm assuming they get a prep for each grade level.

DP but number of preps don't matter-all teachers get 225 minutes per week regardless of number of preps.

[Anonymous]

You can see what each school CLAIMS they are providing: https://osse.dc.gov/page/2024-25-school-year-dc-public-schools-health-profiles

Also, the twice per week doesn’t have to be strict “PE”, it can be called something else. What other specials classes does your school offer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can see what each school CLAIMS they are providing: https://osse.dc.gov/page/2024-25-school-year-dc-public-schools-health-profiles

Also, the twice per week doesn’t have to be strict “PE”, it can be called something else. What other specials classes does your school offer?

Oh wow. They are claiming each student gets 80 minutes of health and that each student is receiving 150 minutes of PE time per week. How is this okay? The other specials are art, music, science, and French.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see what each school CLAIMS they are providing: https://osse.dc.gov/page/2024-25-school-year-dc-public-schools-health-profiles

Also, the twice per week doesn’t have to be strict “PE”, it can be called something else. What other specials classes does your school offer?

Oh wow. They are claiming each student gets 80 minutes of health and that each student is receiving 150 minutes of PE time per week. How is this okay? The other specials are art, music, science, and French.

It’s not. They are saying kids get basically 30 minutes of PE a day. Or one day of 45 of PE and 20 of recess a day. I think that question specifically says not to include recess.

If you want to raise a stink, email the principal the link and ask for clarification. You can also copy their instructional superintendent who I believe has to sign off on schedules.