OSPI adopted new state standards for Health and Fitness in 2016. The state’s responsibility is to determine learning standards in many curricular areas. Standards are broad statements about what students should know and be able to do. They are required to be taught in public schools. An example of a health standard is “Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.”
In 2016, school districts were tasked with determining how these standards would be implemented in their district. Districts, schools and teachers determine grade-level outcomes. Grade-level outcomes (or student learning outcomes) described in the standards are optional for schools and teachers. They give examples of what more specific instruction might look like. An example of a health outcome is “understand germs can cause diseases.” Optional grade-level outcomes on “self-identity” were included in the new health standards as a way to promote understanding and respect for a wide variety of students and families. More and more districts each year are asking how they can support students who identify as lesbian, gay or transgender.
In NSD, we formed a committee of K-12 PE/Health teachers to determine grade level outcomes to meet the state learning standards. We then got community input on determined outcomes through a series of five evening meetings in the spring of 2017. We brought the feedback to our committee and received approval by the district administration of the determined outcomes in May 2017.