Kentucky schools lack equity when it comes to opportunities for physical activity. That’s according to Jamie Sparks, Executive Director of KYSHAPE.
Sparks pointed out schools have local control over instructional time, but they also have federal mandates to follow.
“That doesn't give them a lot of flexibility at the local level, in making sure that we have recess and PE and things like that, because it doesn't show up in the accountability model. So we still have a long way to go from an equity perspective,” said Sparks.
Sparks said some schools do an excellent job creating an active environment, while kids at other schools do not have the same experience.
Sparks added higher education is an obstacle.
“Morehead dropped its health and PE program three or four years ago. So there's no PE teachers, no health teachers coming out of this program. Now, EKU dropped its health and PE certification program. So it's only Masters of Art and Teaching now, and it's getting fewer and fewer,” said Sparks.
Sparks said this means there’s no longer a pipeline of health and PE teachers feeding into Appalachia, where some of the state’s poorest counties are located.
This week KYSHAPE held professional development sessions for K-12 health and physical education teachers in Lexington.
