Quality Assurance in Physical Education

Overview & Synopsis

In an economic and political climate marked by the continued reduction of physical education programs, the authors believe that advocacy is now a professional responsibility that all physical educators have a duty to perform. Despite support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE; 2010b), the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, and the parents of children in physical education classes, physical education programs are continuing to be cut from schools. As a result, advocating for quality physical education has become paramount. Advocacy involves promoting the importance of physical education at the local, state, and national levels. However, all efforts begin through the development and maintenance of a quality physical education program that aligns with state and national standards. It is the responsibility of physical educators to develop the type of quality physical education that merits advocacy, an effort for which NASPE has created helpful resources. These resources include standards for physical education practice and guidelines for quality physical education programming. The authors point out that the necessary first step in becoming a good advocate is establishing a quality physical education program.