Every Student Succeeds Act:
A Game Changer for Health and Physical Education
The U.S. Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015, reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This bipartisan legislation replaces No Child Left Behind as the federal education legislation that funds and provides the framework for elementary and secondary education in the United States.
The passage of ESSA was a major victory for the health and physical education profession and the 50 million students in schools across the country. ESSA offers new access to funding for health and physical education programs in every state.
Here is how ESSA impacts school health and physical education:
- School health and physical education are identified as part of a student's "well-
rounded education”. This term replaces the term “core academic subjects” from previous versions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- School districts will be able to access funding for health and physical education from Title I, Title II and Title IV through
their state department of education.
- Funding previously allocated to school districts through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) from the
U.S. Department of Education will no longer exist after FY 2016. The funding available in the block grants through Title IV,
Part A will replace the PEP grant funding.
- ESSA funding for Titles I, II and IV will begin to flow to states in July 2017. The 2016-2017 school year will be a transition
year for states and school districts. States have already begun to develop ESSA implementation plans. Make sure YOU
are part of the process!
Resources:
- Every Student Succeeds Act 101 podcast
- Getting Started with ESSA webinar
- Getting Started with ESSA: A Guide for Health and Physical Educators
- ESSA template support letters
- ESSA Fact sheets & talking points Visit www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy for more information!
© 2016, SHAPE America - Society of Health and Physical Educators • www.shapeamerica.org
1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191 • 703.476.3400 • Fax 703.476.9527 • [email protected]
A Game Changer for Health and Physical Education
The U.S. Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015, reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This bipartisan legislation replaces No Child Left Behind as the federal education legislation that funds and provides the framework for elementary and secondary education in the United States.
The passage of ESSA was a major victory for the health and physical education profession and the 50 million students in schools across the country. ESSA offers new access to funding for health and physical education programs in every state.
Here is how ESSA impacts school health and physical education:
- School health and physical education are identified as part of a student's "well-
rounded education”. This term replaces the term “core academic subjects” from previous versions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- School districts will be able to access funding for health and physical education from Title I, Title II and Title IV through
their state department of education.
- Funding previously allocated to school districts through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) from the
U.S. Department of Education will no longer exist after FY 2016. The funding available in the block grants through Title IV,
Part A will replace the PEP grant funding.
- ESSA funding for Titles I, II and IV will begin to flow to states in July 2017. The 2016-2017 school year will be a transition
year for states and school districts. States have already begun to develop ESSA implementation plans. Make sure YOU
are part of the process!
Resources:
- Every Student Succeeds Act 101 podcast
- Getting Started with ESSA webinar
- Getting Started with ESSA: A Guide for Health and Physical Educators
- ESSA template support letters
- ESSA Fact sheets & talking points Visit www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy for more information!
© 2016, SHAPE America - Society of Health and Physical Educators • www.shapeamerica.org
1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191 • 703.476.3400 • Fax 703.476.9527 • [email protected]
