THUNDERDOME!!!

OP here, thanks all, especially for the link to the DCPS physical education page. It's much more structured than I realized and I guess that as a PP said, the days of kickball on the playground are over:

The PE education has shifted from a competitive environment to one that is more inclusive and focuses on cooperative challenges, social interaction, self-expression and realizing personal goals while developing students’ intrinsic motivation to engage in physical activity.

I wasn't really complaining, just curious more than anything else. I do think the more outside time, the better, especially in nice weather. (Both for mental health reasons and because studies have found that kids are less likely to develop myopia if they spend more time outside.) But as I said before, my kids like PE so staying indoors isn't that big a deal.

My PK4 EOTP kid has talked about doing balance bikes in the gym (which is also the stage). He seems happy and loves his PE teacher, who is also a dad at the school. I'll ask him next time I see him.

Yes, PE has a pretty well developed curriculum at this point. Typically health and PE are in the hands of one and the same teacher: http://dcps.dc.gov/page/health-and-physical-education
Our child occasionally brings home benchmark tests, a bit like in other subjects.

I'd never think to complain about this. They go outside for recess, don't they? If I had to guess, I'd say that PE has moved away from competitive games that favor kids who are more athletic and more towards activities that all can enjoy.

What does your DCPS elementary kid do in gym/PE class? I'm asking because it seems that our PE teacher never takes the kids outside, not even in warm weather unless the gym is in use. They just do stuff in the gym --exercises and games, I guess. My kids seem to like PE, so it's not that big a deal. But when I was a kid we went outside and played kickball and other games.

My school is EOTP, not sure if that makes a difference. What happens at your school? Also, does anyone know if the PE program is handed down from downtown, or do PE teachers have discretion?