How Physical Education Teachers Can Turn Stories and Research Into Advocacy

Policy.

Let’s be real, it’s not exactly the kind of word that gets physical education teachers jumping out of their seats. It sounds stiff, official, maybe even a little scary. Add research to it, and you can almost hear the energy drain out of the room.

But here’s the truth: Policy isn’t some far-off idea buried in a state document or district office. It determines whether your students receive physical education, the amount of time allocated, who teaches it, and what constitutes “quality.” It shows up in every class schedule, every shared gym, and every conversation about where physical education fits into the school day.

If you’ve ever stood firm on your instructional minutes, defended your gym space, or reminded someone that physical education is about more than “just play,” you’re already advocating. You just might not call it that.

And that’s the wake-up call: We’re all already policy actors; every one of us.

Now it’s time to lean in, and yes, maybe pull up a chair in the policy nerd club. There’s plenty of room.

Welcome in. We’ve got work to do.

Policy Sounds Big … But It Starts Small

Policy isn’t just written in state offices. It lives in schools every day. We see policies in master schedules, shared spaces, waiver forms and graduation requirements.

That’s why the new State of the States Policy Report is important to be aware of, especially for advocacy efforts. The report offers a current, nationwide look at how physical education and physical activity policies compare, where progress is being made, and where gaps remain. More importantly, it connects research and policy to everyday practice, giving educators and advocates data they can use to strengthen the quantity, quality and equity of physical education across the country.

Policy research doesn’t happen often in physical education. Policy implementation research? Even more rare. The State of the States report changes that. It connects what’s written in policy to what actually happens in schools, helping us move from awareness to action. Not just for policymakers. For us.

The report is part of a recent JOPERD special issue on policy in physical education and physical activity, a series of articles that take a closer look at what’s happening across states and why it matters for the future of our field. It’s worth exploring if you want to better understand your own state’s policy landscape and how national trends connect to local realities.

One of the pieces I contributed to that issue, “From Policy to Action: Leveraging the State of the States Report for Advocacy,” breaks down how educators can use this data in practical, everyday ways, aiming to turn research into meaningful advocacy in schools and communities.

From Awareness to Action

You don’t need to sit on a committee or work at the state level to make a difference. Every choice you make already influences how physical education happens in your school.

Here’s how you can start using the report and your voice more intentionally:

1. Know your state’s story.
   Check out your state’s snapshot in the State of the States report. What’s strong? What’s missing? Knowing the reality of access to physical education and physical activity opportunities in your state gives you the confidence and the evidence to speak up.
2. Pair data with stories.
   Numbers grab attention, but stories pull at heartstrings. Tell the story of your students and what the data looks like in your gym. Data gets you in the door, stories get people to stay.
3. Find your people.
   Advocacy works better with a team. Connect with other teachers, parents, administrators or even students who share the passion for movement. When you talk together, people start listening.
4. Start small.
   You don’t have to change a law to make an impact. Focus on the low-hanging fruit — things you can influence right now (perhaps that don’t cost $$$). Maybe it’s reviewing substitution or waiver policies, protecting instructional minutes, or rethinking outdated practices like using physical activity as punishment. SHAPE America clearly opposes this practice, and changing it locally is a simple but powerful step toward a healthier, more inclusive environment. Small wins like these build real momentum.
5. Keep equity at the center.
   Ask: Who makes the policy decisions at each level? Who benefits? Who are the policies really for, and who might be left out? Strong policy should create opportunities for every student. Keeping equity in mind means paying attention to who has access, whose voices are included, and who might still be missing from the conversation. It’s something to keep at the heart of our work, not as an afterthought.

Answering the Wake-Up Call

This is it — the wake-up call for all of us in physical education. We’ve got data. You’ve got stories. The time is now.

We have to remember that the report and its data are only as meaningful as what we do with them. Policy doesn’t live solely in documents or dashboards; it lives in classrooms, in our daily decisions, and in those moments when we choose whether to speak up or stay silent (which is a policy act as well).

The State of the States report gives us the tools to be more intentional with the work we’re already doing. Listen, I know we don’t need to add more to our plates, and that’s why we can use what we already do with purpose. Staying on the sidelines only keeps things the same, and our students deserve better.

Download the State of the States report. Read it. Share it. Bring it to your next department or team meeting. Use it to start conversations about what’s possible in your district or state. Educate. Advocate.

Because when policy and practice finally work together, students win.

So yeah, consider this your invitation.

Join the club. Tell your story. Bring your data.

Let’s make #PEPolicyNerds a thing.

You in?

Additional Resources

• State of the States Policy Report: Physical Education and Physical Activity Policy in the United States and Its Territories
• SHAPE America SPEAK Out! Day
• SHAPE America Advocacy Resources

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