The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health & Sports, and the Michigan Fitness Foundation

Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports

EXEMPLARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION AWARDS

Purpose of the Awards Program
The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation provide awards to recognize school districts, individual teachers or buildings that demonstrate their commitment to high-quality physical education by taking exemplary actions and demonstrating exemplary results in terms of student achievement. Recognition is intended to motivate and to identify models of effectiveness for other school districts that seek to provide quality physical education programs.

The Awards Ladder
There are eight levels of awards, described in detail at the bottom of this document. Levels 1-4 recognize exemplary actions that lead to development and implementation of exemplary programs. Levels 5-8 recognize exemplary outcomes in terms of student achievement. Level 5 requires evidence of student achievement in at least two of the four content domains of physical education (i.e., motor skills, physical fitness, knowledge, and personal/social skills). By Level 8 there must be evidence of student achievement in all four categories of curricular content.

A district or individual school must achieve Level 2 before applying for Level 3; must achieve Level 3 before applying for Level 4; and must achieve Level 4 before applying for Levels 5-8. After Level 4 is achieved, a school or district may apply for Levels 5, 6, 7, or 8.

Districts or individuals who achieve Level 8 have demonstrated a high level of program effectiveness. Level 8 Renewal is an option for those who wish to remain current in the program by demonstrating high levels of effectiveness at periodic intervals. See “Level 8 Renewal Procedure,” available on-line or from the Governor's Council, for a description of this process.

Who Can Apply for an Award?
Awards can be received by: 1) a school district or 2) an individual teacher or group of teachers in one school building if their school district is not on the Awards Ladder. Applications from districts are preferred because of the interdependency across grades, buildings, and teachers necessary for high-quality programming. However, where district-wide support is not available, an individual teacher, or a group of teachers in a building may be recognized for exemplary work.

Award Criteria
The standards and criteria for these awards were derived from professional literature and validated for use in Michigan by the education subcommittee of the Governor’s Council and members of the Michigan Department of Education’s Physical Education Referent Group.

Awards Ladder Progress
A level award remains active for three years from the time it is achieved. A school district or individual teacher/school is required to apply for the next level on the Awards Ladder within a period of three years to remain current. If level advancement does not occur within three years, the applicant will be required to renew the current level at the time they wish to continue with the Awards Ladder. The renewal application must demonstrate that level accomplishment has been maintained. Renewal applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If progress or renewal does not occur within five years, the applicant will be required to restart the Awards Ladder at Level 2.

How to Apply for an Award
Study the Awards Ladder below to decide which level is appropriate for your situation. The application materials, including the self-study handbooks and sample reports, may be downloaded for free. Links to application materials are provided below. Written requests may be sent to: Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, Exemplary PE Awards Program, P.O. Box 27187, Lansing, MI 48909 or by calling (800) 434-8642. There is a fee (copying costs and postage) for the self-study handbooks and sample reports. Carefully complete the application tasks and submit the application materials to the Governor’s Council.

Deadline
The Governor’s Council must receive applications by June 1st of each year. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of educators appointed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, representing public schools, universities, and public agencies who are knowledgeable about curriculum, instruction, program evaluation and the exemplary awards program.

Awards Recognition
Each award winner will receive a certificate, plaque, or other public display commensurate with the level of award. Statewide recognition will be achieved through a publication of winners’ names in statewide publications, presentation of awards at a

statewide honors event in the autumn following award decisions, and continuous publication on the Governor’s Council website, www.michiganfitness.org.

Questions
If you have questions about the Exemplary Physical Education Awards Program, please contact the Governor’s Council at

Level 1: Districts move directly to Level 2. Click here for Level 1 application.

Level 2: The district completes a district-wide self-study. Requires a green self-study handbook (available through the Governor’s Council) and three copies of a typed report based on the self-study in the format specified. Click here for Level 2 application. Click here for the green self-study handbook. Click here for the Level 2 attachment. Note: All three documents are needed.

Level 3: The district develops and receives district approval of a core physical education curriculum that meets Level 3 standards and a plan for its implementation. Requires submission of a Level 3 application and three copies of a typed report in the format specified. Only districts that have received a Level 2 award may apply. Click here for Level 3 application.

Level 4: The district provides evidence that at least 50% of the district-approved core curriculum documented for Level 3 is being taught by at least 50% of the physical education staff.¥ Requires submission of a Level 4 application and three copies of a typed report in the format specified. Only districts that have received a Level 3 award may apply. Click here for Level 4 application.

District Awards Ladder Levels 5-8:
Exemplary Outcomes

Level 5: The district provides evidence* that at least 50% of its teachers are effective in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in each of two content domains in physical education** at both the elementary and secondary levels. Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 6: The district provides evidence* that at least 50% of its teachers are effective in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in each of three domains of physical education** at both the elementary and secondary levels.Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 7: The district provides evidence* that at least 70% of its teachers are effective in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in all four content domains of physical education** at both the elementary and secondary levels.Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 8: The district provides evidence* that at least 80% of its teachers are effective in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with four core curriculum objectives in all four content domains of physical education** at both the elementary and secondary levels.Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 8 Renewal: The district provides evidence that Level 8 criteria continues to be met as outlined in the Level 8 Renewal Procedure document. Level 8 Renewal applications must be submitted within four years of a previous Level 8 Renewal or the original Level 8 award. Level 8 Renewal Procedure

¥ Only physical education teachers with at least 50% appointment in required physical education courses are included.

* Level 5-8 requires evidence (scientifically valid documentation) of student outcomes in accordance with the standards and criteria specified in the application form. Documentation includes: description of the program’s context; a description of the program and its implementation that is sufficient to allow replication; description of the evaluation design, sampling processes, measurement and data collection procedures; analysis of the data; and a summary of program effectiveness. Only districts that have achieved Level 4 may apply. The appropriate administrator’s signature and three copies of the report are required.

** The four content domains of physical education are: motor skills, physical fitness, knowledge, and personal/social skills.

Level 1: Teacher/building completes a preliminary program review and makes a commitment to pursue subsequent levels of exemplary program status. Requires an abbreviated self-study. Click here for Level 1 application.

Level 2: Teacher/building completes an abbreviated self-study. Requires the individual blue self-study handbook (available through the Governor’s Council) and three copies of a typed report based on the self-study in the format specified. Click here for Level 2 application. Click here for the blue self-study handbook. Click here for the Level 2 attachment. Note: All three documents are needed.

Level 3: Teacher/building develops a core physical education curriculum that meets Level 3 standards and a plan for its implementation. Requires submission of a Level 3 application and three copies of a typed report in the format specified. Only teachers/buildings that have received a Level 2 award may apply. Click here for Level 3 application.

Level 4: Teacher/building provides evidence that at least 75% of the core curriculum documented for Level 3 is being taught. Requires submission of a Level 4 application and three copies of a typed report in the format specified. Only teachers/buildings who have received a Level 3 award may apply. Click here for Level 4 application.

Individual Teacher or Building Awards Ladder Levels 5-8:
Exemplary Outcomes

Level 5: Teacher/building provides evidence* of effectiveness in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in two content domains of physical education** at the level taught (e.g., elementary or secondary). Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 6: Teacher/building provides evidence* of effectiveness in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in three content domains of physical education** at the level taught (e.g., elementary or secondary). Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 7: Teacher/building provides evidence* of effectiveness in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with two core curriculum objectives in all four content domains of physical education** at the level taught (e.g., elementary or secondary). Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 8: Teacher/building provides evidence* of effectiveness in facilitating student achievement on appropriate developmental benchmarks associated with four core curriculum objectives in all four content domains of physical education** at the level taught (e.g., elementary or secondary). Click here for Levels 5-8 application.

Level 8 Renewal: The teacher/building provides evidence that Level 8 criteria continues to be met as outlined in the Level 8 Renewal Procedure document. Level 8 Renewal applications must be submitted within four years of a previous Level 8 Renewal or the original Level 8 award. Level 8 Renewal Procedure

* Level 5-8 requires evidence (scientifically valid documentation) of student outcomes in accordance with the standards and criteria specified in the application form. Documentation includes: description of the program’s context; a description of the program and its implementation that is sufficient to allow replication; description of the evaluation design, sampling processes, measurement and data collection procedures; analysis of the data; and a summary of program effectiveness. Only teacher that have achieved Level 4 may apply. The appropriate administrator’s signature and three copies of the report are required.

** The four content domains of physical education are: motor skills, physical fitness, knowledge, and personal/social skills.