Understanding the New SHAPE America Physical Education Standards for 2024
- Pete Charrette
- Mar 20, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
If you haven't had a chance to dig into SHAPE America's new National Physical Education Standards yet, now is the time. This is a significant moment for our field, the kind of update that doesn't come along very often, and I think it represents a genuinely exciting step forward for physical education teachers across the country.
These new standards come at a moment when we're already navigating a lot of change in education, and they offer something we can really use: a fresh, comprehensive framework that elevates physical education and puts physical literacy, emotional well-being, and the joy of movement right at the center of what we do.
For every student, in every school, regardless of setting or resources.
In this article, I'll walk through the heart of these new standards — what changed, what stayed the same, what each standard means in practice, and how they're likely to shape the way we teach.
Whether you're just hearing about them for the first time or you've already been trying to figure out how to implement them, I hope this gives you a useful starting point.
Click the links below to JUMP to a section:
A Look Back at the 2013 Standards
Before we get into the new standards, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate where we've been. The 2013 National Physical Education Standards shaped the way an entire generation of PE teachers planned their programs, assessed their students, and made the case for their subject.
For nearly a decade, they served as the benchmark for what quality physical education should look like. Understanding them is essential context for appreciating what's changed, and why.
The 2013 standards were built around five core principles designed to develop physically literate individuals:
1 - Motor Skills Competency: The first standard focused on developing a wide range of motor skills and movement patterns — the foundational physical toolkit students need to engage confidently in a variety of activities.
2013 Standard 1: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
2 - Knowledge Application in Movement: Beyond physical skill, this standard pushed students to think critically about how and why they move — applying concepts, strategies, and tactics to their physical activity.
2013 Standard 2: The physically literate individual applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance.
3 - Physical Activity and Fitness: This standard was about more than just being active — it was about equipping students with the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness.
2013 Standard 3: The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
4 - Personal and Social Responsibility: Recognizing that PE is as much about character as it is about fitness, this standard addressed respect, teamwork, and responsible behavior in physical activity settings.
2013 Standard 4: The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.
5 - Value of Physical Activity: The final standard focused on helping students recognize and appreciate what physical activity offers — for health, enjoyment, self-expression, and social connection.
2013 Standard 5: The physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction.
Together, these five standards gave us a strong foundation. The new 2024 standards build from that foundation — and in some meaningful ways, they raise the ceiling.
SHAPE America. (2013). National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Reston, VA: Author.
The Revision Journey for the 2024 Standards
SHAPE America kicked off the revision process in early 2021, and from the start, the approach was intentionally collaborative and transparent. The National Physical Education Standards Task Force didn't just sit in a room and write new standards; they went out and listened. PETE faculty brought academic expertise. PreK–12 practitioners brought real classroom experience. And students, the people these standards actually serve, had a voice too.
The task force used several methods to gather broad input:
Town Halls: Open forums where educators from all backgrounds could share their vision for PE, discuss best practices, and raise the challenges they were actually facing in their programs.
Student Voice Survey: Over 4,600 student responses provided direct insight into what students valued in PE, what they struggled with, and how physical education was impacting their lives. That's not a small sample, and it shows a genuine commitment to centering student experience.
Three Rounds of Public Review: Draft standards were opened for public feedback multiple times, giving the broader education community a chance to weigh in before anything was finalized.
The result is a set of standards that feel grounded in real experience — not just theory — and that reflect where physical education needs to go to remain relevant, meaningful, and equitable for all students.
Overview of New National Physical Education Standards
The 2024 National Physical Education Standards represent a significant step forward in what we expect from quality PE programs. At their core, they're designed to develop physically educated individuals who are genuinely committed to a lifetime of active, healthy living — not just students who can pass a fitness test.
What makes these standards feel different is the emphasis on holistic development. Physical education is explicitly positioned as a contributor to emotional, social, and cognitive growth, not just physical health.
That's a meaningful expansion of PE's role, and it gives us a stronger foundation to advocate for our programs.
For states and districts, the standards provide a practical framework for curriculum development, assessment, and professional growth. One that's flexible enough to adapt to local contexts while maintaining a high national benchmark.
For further details, download the 2024 National Physical Education Standards Educator Kit from SHAPE America's website.
2024 National Standards - A Detailed Examination
Standard 1: Develops a Variety of Motor Skills
Rationale: Motor skill development is still the cornerstone of physical literacy. Students need to build skills across a range of environments and movement types to engage confidently and competently in physical activity throughout their lives.
Grade-Span Learning Indicators: Indicators progress from basic locomotor and manipulative skills in early childhood to more complex, strategy-driven movements in high school — building intentionally at each stage.
Implications for Teaching: Design lessons that offer a diverse array of motor skill experiences at every grade level. Create dynamic, supportive environments where students can explore and refine their movement toolbox without fear of judgment.
Standard 2: Applies Knowledge Related to Movement and Fitness Concepts
Rationale: Physical skill without understanding is limited. This standard pushes students to comprehend the concepts behind movement and fitness so they can apply that knowledge independently across a wide range of activities.
Grade-Span Learning Indicators: From recognizing personal space in kindergarten to applying complex game strategies in high school — students build cognitive understanding alongside physical competence.
Implications for Teaching: Integrate the "why" into your lessons. When students understand why we warm up, why spatial awareness matters, or why cardiovascular endurance is important, their engagement deepens and their learning sticks.
Standard 3: Develops Social Skills through Movement
Rationale: Physical education is uniquely positioned to develop social skills in ways that few other subjects can. Through movement, students practice empathy, respectful communication, conflict resolution, and cooperation in real time.
Grade-Span Learning Indicators: Early indicators focus on sharing, listening, and following directions. Later indicators build toward leadership, teamwork, and navigating complex group dynamics.
Implications for Teaching: Intentionally design cooperative learning experiences. Debrief after activities. Use PE as a laboratory for social and emotional development, not just physical development.
Standard 4: Develops Personal Skills and Engages in Physical Activity
Rationale: This standard is about empowerment — helping students discover what they love about movement, set their own goals, and take ownership of their physical activity both in and out of school.
Grade-Span Learning Indicators: Students move from identifying activities they enjoy in early grades to independently setting and pursuing personal fitness goals in high school.
Implications for Teaching: Build in student choice. Create space for self-directed physical activity. Help students see PE not as something that happens to them, but as something they can shape for themselves.
You can view the new standards and Grade-Span Learning Indicators here.
National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
Grade-Span Learning Indicators
One of the most practical additions in the new standards is the inclusion of grade-span learning indicators, developmental milestones that give educators a clear roadmap for what students should know and be able to do at different stages.
Tailored Development: The indicators are designed to match where students actually are developmentally, not just where a calendar says they should be. That distinction matters enormously in PE, where physical development varies widely from student to student within the same grade.
Framework for Progression: While not intended for strict cross-grade alignment, the indicators create a scaffolded learning path that supports natural, sequential skill development within each span. Students build on what they know, which is exactly how learning should work.
Flexibility in Curriculum Design: By focusing on grade spans rather than individual grades, the standards give educators room to adapt and respond to the real needs of their students, rather than being locked into a rigid sequence.
Encourages Individualized Learning: The indicators make it easier to identify where each student is in their physical and cognitive development and tailor instruction accordingly.
That's the kind of personalized approach that makes a real difference.
Basis for Assessment: These indicators also give us benchmarks for meaningful assessment, not just measuring whether students can execute a skill, but whether they're developing in ways that support lifelong physical literacy.
Example Grade-Span Learning Indicators for Standard 1 - Grades 3-5:
1.5.1 Combines varied locomotor skills in a variety of practice tasks.
1.5.2 Demonstrates transferring weight from feet to hands and hands to feet in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.3 Demonstrates rolling with the body in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.4 Combines jumping/landing, rolling, balancing and transfer of weight from feet to hands in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.5 Combines locomotor, non- locomotor, and manipulative movements based on a variety of dance forms.
1.5.6 Demonstrates jumping rope in a variety of practice tasks.
1.5.7 Demonstrates jumping and landing in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.8 Demonstrates balancing on different body parts in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.9 Demonstrates rolling a ball in a non-dynamic environment.
1.5.10 Demonstrates throwing in a variety of practice tasks.
The grade-span learning indicators represent a significant advancement in physical education, providing a structured yet flexible framework for developing skills and knowledge that are crucial for students’ growth and well-being.
You can view the new standards and Grade-Span Learning Indicators here.
National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
Impact on Teachers and Curriculum Development
The new standards ask us to think bigger about what PE can be. That means:
Holistic Approach: Designing lessons that go beyond physical skill to intentionally include emotional well-being and social development — not as add-ons, but as core components.
Inclusivity: Thoughtfully planning for diverse student needs, backgrounds, and abilities so that every student can participate meaningfully, not just show up.
Use of Technology: Exploring digital tools and resources that can enhance student engagement and learning — from fitness apps to heart rate monitors to interactive lesson tools.
Integrating into Existing Curriculums
Curriculum Mapping: Audit your current curriculum against the new standards to identify where you're already aligned and where adjustments are needed. You may be closer than you think.
Professional Development: Take advantage of workshops, collaborative planning, and professional learning communities to deepen your understanding of the standards and share implementation strategies with colleagues.
Developing New Instructional Materials
Collaboration: Work with fellow educators to build and share materials that align with the standards. The collective knowledge of a PE department is a powerful thing.
Student-Centered Resources: Design materials that accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities, interactive, adaptable, and built around what students actually need.
Implications for Students
The bottom line is that these standards are designed to give students a better physical education experience, one that supports them as whole people, not just as athletes or fitness test participants.
Benefits for Students
Enhanced Physical Health: A broader range of activities and a stronger emphasis on physical literacy mean more students developing real, lasting fitness.
Mental Well-Being: The explicit inclusion of emotional well-being in the standards means PE programs can now more intentionally contribute to students' mental health — something many of us were already doing, but now have the framework to formalize.
Personalized Learning: The emphasis on inclusivity and student choice means more students are able to find their own pathway to physical activity.
Social Skills Development: Cooperative, team-based activities — now formally embedded in Standard 3 — help students develop the communication, empathy, and teamwork skills they'll use for the rest of their lives.
Overall, the new standards are designed to provide a more comprehensive, engaging, and inclusive physical education experience. For teachers, this means adopting new strategies and materials that align with these goals. For students, it represents an opportunity to benefit from a physical education program that supports their holistic development, preparing them for a lifetime of active, healthy living.
Challenges and Opportunities
Like any significant change, implementing these standards will come with real obstacles:
Challenges
Resource Limitations: Not every school has equal access to facilities, equipment, or technology. This remains a significant equity issue in physical education.
Professional Development: The shift to a more holistic approach requires real investment in educator learning — and that takes time and institutional support.
Curriculum Integration: Updating existing programs to align with new standards isn't a weekend project. It takes sustained effort and sometimes a willingness to let go of things that aren't working anymore.
Diverse Student Needs: Designing for true inclusivity requires skill, flexibility, and ongoing reflection — it's a practice, not a one-time fix.
Assessment Strategies: Moving beyond traditional evaluation methods to capture the holistic growth these standards describe will require creativity and a fresh look at how we measure success in PE.
Strategic Advice
Leverage Community Resources: Local sports clubs, community centers, and online platforms can help offset resource limitations and expand what's possible in your program.
Prioritize Professional Development: Advocate for time and support to learn and grow into these standards. Workshops, mentorship, and collaboration with PETE programs are all valuable pathways.
Foster Collaboration: Build a culture of sharing among PE educators in your school or district. Professional learning communities are one of the most effective ways to navigate change together.
Embrace Curriculum Flexibility: Modular or thematic units that can be adapted based on student interest and available resources are especially well-suited to the spirit of these standards.
Innovate Assessment: Move toward formative, reflective assessment that values student voice and self-assessment. This aligns naturally with the standards' emphasis on personal skill development and physical literacy.
Advocate: Work with administrators and school boards to communicate the value of these standards and secure the resources needed to implement them well. Student outcomes data is your strongest ally here.
Opportunities for Growth
Enhanced Student Well-Being: A more holistic PE program that explicitly addresses physical, emotional, and social development has the potential to meaningfully improve school culture.
Innovative Teaching: These standards actively encourage creative, student-centered approaches — which is good news for teachers who love to experiment and push their programs forward.
Community Engagement: Connecting your PE program to local organizations and resources enriches student experience and builds broader support for what you do.
Leadership in Health Education: Schools that embrace these standards have an opportunity to be genuine leaders in promoting health and wellness — for their students and for their communities.
Final Thoughts
From where I sit, the 2024 SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards represent the most significant and exciting development in our field in a long time. They ask more of us, in terms of how we teach, how we include, and how we think about what physical education is for. And I think that's a good thing.
These standards call for educators to actively engage with new strategies, to collaborate, and to commit to ongoing professional growth. That's not easy. But it's exactly the kind of challenge that our profession needs to continue growing and to continue making the case for the irreplaceable value of physical education in every child's life.
Let's embrace this moment with the energy and commitment our students deserve. The future of physical education is bright — and we're the ones building it.
**National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
