SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission voted to recommend that the State Board of Education adopt the draft Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, the first standards-based framework in physical education.

"This new publication will help schools develop effective strategies to teach children healthy lifestyles so they can be fit for life," O’Connell said. "In this high-tech age of video games, cell phones, and social networking Web sites, kids have lost touch with the joy of being physically active and the social interaction through teamwork that they learn in school. Students don’t naturally develop the knowledge and confidence to be physically active that actually helps them succeed in their other studies, so it’s important that they be taught these skills and the importance of physical education."

The most important new feature of the Framework is its focus on what students should know and be able to perform at each grade level – known as the model content standards. The Framework also supports the alignment of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and instructional resources to those state-adopted model content standards.

The Framework gives educators specific examples on how to put together successful physical education programs, guidance for understanding the standards, and ways to measure their success.

Finally, the Framework focuses on student learning and the needs of the learner. Another point strongly emphasized is that every student achieve grade-level and course-level standards in preparation for the next level. There is also a greater emphasis on time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to take action on the Framework at its September 10-11, 2008, meeting. To view the publication, please visit Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools.