Los Angeles Unified School District Physical Education Policy: Assessment, Implementation & Impact

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) serves 670,000 students; four-fifths are Latino or African-American and three-quarters qualify for free-/reduced price meals. In 2009, the district passed a policy to enforce existing physical education (PE) requirements for minimum minutes, content, class size, and teacher credentialing. This study assessed policy implementation. A random sample of 34 LAUSD schools and 11 control schools from nearby districts were assessed using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) to determine amount of PE class time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), class length, content and size. Additionally, interviews with personnel documented PE curriculum, frequency, teacher credentials and policy awareness. LAUSD schools are implementing PE requirements to varying degrees and class quantity and quality is similar to classes in comparison districts. LAUSD secondary schools are generally meeting the required PE minutes and all teachers are credentialed, but the amount of MVPA varies, with students spending less than 50% of classtime in MVPA on average. Elementary schools are not meeting required PE minutes, do not have PE credentialed teachers, and are only spending 30% of their classtime in MVPA, on average. About half of the teachers were aware of the PE policy, and some of these reported they were working to improve PE quantity and quality. Middle and high schools are generally meeting state standards for PE, but quality needs to be improved to encourage MVPA. Elementary schools need support through trainings or resources to meet state standards for PE minutes and content.