Physical Education Updates
NYSED Physical Education, Health Education, and Athletics Update ~ Summer 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
(As of 12-11-2020 - Note that this information may constantly be updated and/or amended based on any new information that comes available.)
- NYSED's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage
- Recent News from NYSED
- Feeling anxiety amid a global pandemic is normal and natural for everyone. As the adults, it's critical that we take care of our own mental and physical health, and that will help us to better support our young people. NYSED has compiled numerous resources offering guidance for self-care as well as strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people.
CPR Exemption
- Required Hands Only CPR-2020 graduating seniors exempt during COVID 19 Crisis
Learning Resources
Reopening Resources
Professional Development Opportunities
NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD)
- New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) Conference (March 8-11, 2021) in Verona, New York *
NYS Council of Administrators Conference
- New York State Council of Administrators Conference (March 8-11, 2021) in Verona, New York
Society for Health and Physical Education of America (SHAPE)
- Society for Health and Physical Education of America (SHAPE), National Conference Salt Lake City, Utah (April 13-17, 2021)
NYS Athletic Administrators Association
- New York State Athletic Administrators Association (NYSAAA) Leadership Training Program and Certification Program *
- New York State Athletic Administrators Association (NYSAAA) Annual Conference 2020 SARATOGA SPRINGS – (March 16-19, 2021) *
* Note- NYSAAA and NYSAHPERD are both approved for NYSED CTLE credit.
Physical Education and Athletics
1. Good News! New York State Physical Education Learning Standards have been approved by the NYSED Board of Regents (March 2, 2020)
- Collaboration between NYSAHPERD and multiple stakeholders with SED.
- The NYS Physical Education Learning Standards were approved unanimously by the NYSED BOR on March 2, 2020.
- Summary of the NYS Physical Education Learning Standards (2020) revision process
- *Note that we are moving forward with Implementation Timeline process and activities
2. I Can Do It! A Physical Activity Program for K-12 Students with Disabilities (2019-2020)
- The I Can Do It! Program (ICDI), released through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (Administration for Community Living), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, is a voluntary school-based physical activity program designed to provide access, facilitate, and encourage opportunities for students with disabilities to be physically active for 60 minutes a day. This can be accomplished by accumulating the 60 minutes through physical education, adapted physical education, recess, classroom physical activity breaks, active transport to and from school, and extracurricular activities, including a variety of club and sport activities.
- For additional information, or to get started, please contact Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Program Manager, at Jayne.Greenberg@hhs.gov, or 202 768-3557.
3. Residential Facility or Home Operated or Supervised by any State Agency Program - Physical Education Credit Amendment (January 2020)
- The Board of Regents adopted regulatory changes in Section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of education impacting the Physical Education for a diploma and transfer credits for students earning credit in a residential facility or home operated or supervised by any state agency educational program pursuant to Sections 112 and 3202(7) of the Education Law and parts 116 and 118 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. (January 30, 2020)
- Numerous meetings with leaders and staff from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Division of Corrections and Community Services (DOCCS), and non-secure and secure detention facilities were held.
- Concerned issues raised was the failure of school districts to award credit for schoolwork completed by students while detained, placed, or incarcerated.
- Due to the Civil Service titles and the unique needs and nature of the education programs offered by juvenile and criminal justice system facilities, students receive extensive physical education, but the classes are taught by recreational specialists, who may or may not be certified physical education teachers. When the students transfer back to high school, they find themselves severely under credited in physical education, notwithstanding the fact that they have spent hours in physical education classes in these facilities.
- Revision to §100.5(d)(5) of Commissioner’s Regulations provides these students with the same exemption currently provided to students transferring from another state and students of military families, who transfer into a registered New York State high school from another state, to allow such students to be exempt from the required two units of credit requirement in physical education to meet the diploma requirements. Instead, such students shall be required to enroll in physical education courses every semester they are in a registered New York State high school and shall earn 1/4 unit of credit for each semester of physical education.
- Amendment allows students who have earned the required number of credits in physical education to meet the diploma requirements but may need more than eight semesters to graduate due to other course or assessment deficiencies, to be permitted to stop enrolling in physical education courses. Students often need to return beyond their senior year to make up a failed course or attend preparatory sessions to pass failed assessments, and the current regulation requires these students to enroll in physical education courses for those semesters as well, even though they have met the required number of diploma credits for graduation. The proposed amendment will eliminate this requirement.
4. Unified Sports "Inclusive Athletic Activities" Extended Eligibility
- Reference Proposed Amendment of Sections 135.1 and 135.4 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to Extended Eligibility for Participation in Inclusive Athletic Activities
- Emergency rule became effective December 10, 2019.
- Because “unified sports” is actually a trademarked name, the emergency rule will amend the program name to “inclusive athletic activities.” More notably, this amendment also establishes an exemption from the age and four-year limitations on participation in inclusive athletic activities. The amendment also relieves students from the requirement of undergoing a physical evaluation that includes an assessment of physical development and maturity.
- Under the new rule, the exemption may apply where the superintendent or chief executive officer of the school determines that: (1) the student is a bona fide student of the high school and has not yet graduated; (2) the student is otherwise qualified to compete; and (3) the student underwent a health examination by the director of school services who determined that the student’s participation will not present safety or health concerns.
5. Coaching Updates (Amendments due to COVID-19)
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Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to eligibility for participation in interschool competition and inclusive athletic activities for students who have Section 504 or ADA plans. (June 2020)
- The Board has adopted by emergency action a change to the bona fide student regulation.
- The regulation, as written, has been interpreted by schools and athletic associations, etc., as precluding consideration of a request for an accommodation on behalf of an otherwise qualified student with a disability who is not registered in the equivalent of three regular courses as a result of his or her education plan approved under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- The amendment makes it clear that the regulation should not be interpreted as barring consideration of such accommodation requests in accordance with federal law.
- Reference Amendment to Section 135.4 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to eligibility for participation in interschool competition and inclusive athletic activities for students who have Section 504 or ADA plans
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COVID -19 Update: First Aid and CPR/AED Certification Flexibility for Coaches. (June 2020)
- Reference COVID-19 Update: First Aid and CPR/AED Certification Flexibility for Coaches
- Reference COVID-19 Update Amendment: First Aid and CPR/AED Certification Flexibility for Coaches (December 2020)
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COVID -19 Update: Theory and Techniques of Coaching (Sport Specific) Course Internship Experience Flexibility
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COVID-19 Update: Professional Coaching License Amendment
- Background: Section 135.4 is amended to not require temporary coaching candidates of extracurricular interscholastic sports, who held a temporary coaching certificate for the winter 2019-2020 and/or spring 2020 sports seasons, to have received an evaluation by the principal or athletic director for the winter 2019-2020 and/or spring 2020 sport seasons for professional coaching certification due to school closures during the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, these candidates are required to receive a satisfactory evaluation by the principal or athletic director for each of the preceding three years that they coached in the sport for which a professional coaching certificate is sought.
6. Approved Coaching Course List (Updated February 2020)
- The list of Courses Accepted as Meeting the Coaches' First Aid Requirement was updated on February 2020.
7. Guidelines for Coaching (Updated January 2018)
- Reference Guidelines for the Coaching Requirements
8. Quality Physical Education Plan Reminder
- Is your district plan current with the new NYS Physical Education Learning Standards and regulations? Is your plan frequently updated to ensure high-quality programs are being offered? Recommend updating minimum of 7 years. Important when looking for funding and support.
- If you need technical assistance or have specific questions contact Darryl Daily at darryl.daily@nysed.gov
- According to Commissioner’s Regulation 135.4 -Physical Education Plans must be filed both at the local level and at the Department. Plans can be sent as a hard copy or as an e-mailed attachment to the Department. E-mail format is preferred.
- Reference:
Health Education
A) Mental Health Education Legislation (Effective July 1, 2018)
- Mental Health Education Legislation Chapter 390 of the Laws of 2016 amending Section 804 of Article 17 and states as of July 2018 all schools under the jurisdiction of the department will ensure their health education programs recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and the relation of physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity – http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO
- SED & Mental Health Association of NYS collaborated as a stakeholder task force to develop guidance resources to implement the new mental health law by July 2018.
- Reference:
- Health Education webpage
- Mental Health Education webpage
- Meetings and professional are ongoing with collaboration between NYSED and MHANYS
B) Social-Emotional Learning Guidelines (BOE- Presentation May 2018)
- Introducing New Guidance and Resources for Social Emotional Learning | BR (D) 1
- Supplemental Presentation:
- Social Emotional Learning webpage
C) New York State Combat Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Campaign
- At its meeting in January 2015, the Board of Regents convened a panel to discuss combating opioid and heroin use and abuse. Presenters shared their thoughts on prevention, warning signs, intervention, referral, treatment, recovery, and outreach.
- In 2015, New York State enacted laws allowing schools to provide and maintain opioid antagonists (naloxone) on-site, and late last year, NYSED issued guidance and information for schools regarding opioid overdose prevention programs. Additional resources to combat opioid and heroin use and abuse include:
- Kitchen Table Toolkit
- The Kitchen Table Toolkit was developed to assist individuals (parents, spouses, siblings, teachers, coaches, counselors, probation officers, etc.) with initiating conversations about heroin and opioid abuse. Information, resources, and supports are available so no one needs to be alone in the fight to combat heroin and opioid abuse. Recognizing that addiction is not exclusive to heroin and opioids, this information may be applicable for alcohol and other drugs, also addressed in this toolkit. See page 12 for school-focused information.
- Kitchen Table Toolkit
- For updated Health Education Standards Supplemental Guidance Document reference the Health Education Standards Modernization Supplemental Guidance Document: Instructional Resource Packet For Heroin & Opioids
D) Development of Resources to Educate on Need to Encourage Organ and Tissue Donation
- Legislation (Summer 2016)-SED began working collaboratively with multiple organizations that promote organ and tissue donation to provide a toolkit that contains model exemplar lesson plans and best practice instructional resources on the importance and value of organ and tissue donation. Information will be shared as it becomes available.
- Please note-APRIL is National “DONATE LIFE” month.
- Reference:
- NYS Donate Life: Resources for High School Educators
- Donate Life Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation in New York State: Sample Strategies for Incorporating Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation into the High School Health Curriculum
E) Development of Resources for Sepsis
- SED worked collaboratively with organizations that promote sepsis education to provide model exemplar lesson plans and best practice instructional resources for school districts.
- Reference Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis: Education Modules
F) Gambling Resources
- In recognition of Problem Gambling awareness Month (April), the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services released a tool kit in collaboration with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to help identify early problem gambling habits in teens.
- According to OASIS, “The new comprehensive Toolkit can be used by school administrators, educators, pupil personnel services, parent-teacher associations, parents, and community groups to teach students and parents about preventing underage gambling.”
G) Commissioner's Regulations to Require Instruction in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ("Hands Only" CPR) and Instruction in the Use of Automated External Defibrillators (Requirement began September 2015)
- Students in senior high school shall be provided instruction in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator at least once before graduation.
- Reference:
H) Tick and Lyme Disease Legislation (Summer 2016)
- NYSED and Department of Conservation collaborated on instructional tools and materials for school districts to advance and promote education awareness on tick identification and protection.
- Reference Tick and Tick-Borne Disease: Education in Schools
I) Raising Awareness / Education on Dangers of e-Cigarettes
- Letter to Schools from Commissioners of the New York State Department of Health and Education Department to Raise Awareness and Educate on the Dangers of e-Cigarettes (January 02, 2019)
- Evidence-based E-Cigarettes and Vaping Webinar
- E-Cigarettes Learning Page, NYS Center for School Health, a contracted technical assistance resource center for the NYSED
- Additional resources located at the NYSDOH Get the Facts Website
Contact Information
Darryl L. Daily, Associate in Physical Education
New York State Education Department
Room 860 EBA
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
E-mail: Darryl.Daily@nysed.gov
Phone: (518) 474-5922