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La. (WVUE) – Public school students statewide will face new physical challenges when the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s latest standards roll out
“Research consistently shows the positive impact of personal fitness on a healthy life,” Louisiana Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley said. “These fitness-based standards equip students with knowledge and skills they’ll use the rest of their lives to remain active.”
The newly approved BESE guidelines take effect in the 2027–28 school year
Board members shifted standards to move physical education from paper worksheets to active physical demonstrations, requiring students to master specific exercises such as planks and push-ups. The plan also integrates standardized fitness testing, modeled after the Presidential Fitness Test, starting as early as kindergarten
Some Jefferson Parish elementary schools already are seeing changes to the way they handle physical activity during the school day, school board member Michael Pedalino told Fox 8. A request for comment from the Jefferson Parish School District was not returned
Pedalino said he’s heard parents’ concerns that some elementary schools reduced their previous 45-minute physical education class to 30 minutes and combined it with 15 minutes of recess. The change remains within state mandates, but affected children could lose 15 minutes of free playtime during the school day
“I think our principals and teachers are doing the best they can with the new rules they’ve been given,” Pedalino told Fox 8. “Regardless of how this is implemented, the administration has forced our children to sacrifice 15 minutes of physical activity for additional classroom time.”
Kelly Malcolm said recess stood out as one of her most memorable parts of school. She has reservations about seeing it shortened
“I would struggle with that, knowing that my child was in such a structured setting without breaks,” Malcolm said
Dana Brissette, a mother of three and grandmother of one, said recess offers more than just a break
“It was very important, because you got to socialize with your friends, play, run,” Brissette said
Kennedy Wells said her child needs regular physical movement built into her day
“They want to explore, they want to feel and process what they’re learning through their bodies as well as through their brains,” Wells said
Wells said her daughter has a lot of energy that needs an outlet
“If they don’t get it out during the day, then they come home and there’s conflict a lot of times in the home. They’re frustrated. They want to move,” Wells said
Brissette said her own childhood included extended unstructured outdoor time
“I grew up … we played outside until the streetlights came on,” Brissette said
This scheduling squeeze creates a paradox for some families: Students soon will be expected to meet higher physical fitness and endurance benchmarks, but with less daily free-play time to build such strength and stamina
Reverting the school schedule to previous versions falls beyond his ability as a board member, Pedalino said
Instead, he invites concerned parents to share their thoughts with Superintendent James Gray’s office, or to make a public comment at the next school board meeting Wednesday (Sept. 2) at 6 p.m
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