LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dunn Elementary is done with physical education.
The replacement, an extra 30 minutes of recess with activities led by a regular teacher.
It's a school-based decision, made by a committee of teachers, parents and Dunn Principal Dr. Tracy Barber.
A JCPS spokesperson confirmed "several" schools in the district decided similarly, but didn't say exactly how many.
It's a troubling trend for former P.E. teacher Jamie Sparks.
"A well-rounded education is probably one of the most important things that every administrator needs to embrace," he said, "and a well-rounded program including physical education is certainly part of that."
Now he's executive director of KYSHAPE, an advocacy group for physical educators. Citing the CDC, he pointed out that P.E. increases academic performance. He saw it in his own career when the groups assigned in his PE class overlapped with another teacher's reading groups.
"The same things it takes to learn motor movement in P.E. are the same types of neurological connections that it takes to learn reading and literacy in those early primary levels," he explained.
Without a dedicated P.E. teacher, Sparks is also concerned students won't know as much about their physical wellness—a goal outlined in state legislation.
While the district offered to fund the position, the school's decision-making committee declined.
In a letter to families, Principal Barber wrote that P.E. "would unnecessarily increase the time students are pulled away from core instruction in their homeroom."
On the school's state report card, Dunn Elementary outperforms most of Kentucky and the JCPS district on standardized tests for every subject.
A separate letter reassured families events like cross country, turkey trot and field day will continue.
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