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Health and Physical Education

Health and physical education courses at Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are designed so that students gain the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for lifelong wellness and daily physical activity.

Health Education

The concepts and skills learned in health education become the cornerstone for developing healthy habits that students will use every day for the rest of their lives. Students will learn how to analyze influences, access accurate health information, use positive communication skills, make healthy decisions, set goals, practice healthy/safe behaviors, and advocate for their own health and those around them.

Standards

MPS uses the State of Wisconsin Health Education standards, which are the same as the SHAPE America National Health Education Standards. All grading is based on these standards.

  • Standard 1: Use functional health information to support health and well-being of self and others. 
  • Standard 2: Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 3:Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 4: Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 5: Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 6: Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 7: Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self and others.
  • Standard 8: Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others.

MPS Human Growth and Development (HGD) Curriculum

MPS worked with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and community partners to develop its own sex education curriculum. This curriculum, one of only three curricula recommended by the DPI, is also used in other districts across the state. 

Parents/guardians will receive a permission form for students to opt out of some of the HGD lessons. Most lessons in each grade level have more to do with interpersonal communication and decision making than specific sex-related topics, so students should not be opted out of all lessons. The lesson content can be reviewed using the links below.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

Physical Education

The purpose of physical education is for students to prepare for a lifetime of being physically active.

Standards

MPS uses the SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards. All grading is based on these national standards.

  • Standard 1: Develop a variety of motor skills.
  • Standard 2: Apply knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.
  • Standard 3: Develop social skills through movement.
  • Standard 4: Develop personal skills, identify personal benefits of movement, and choose to engage in physical activity.

Curriculum

MPS uses the nationally recognized SPARK curriculum for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This curriculum focuses on using a variety of activities to engage students and get them moving in and out of school. 

MPS physical education at the high school level includes the use of SPARK integrated into a variety of courses to help students learn what it means to be physically active for a lifetime. All students are expected to participate in physical education classes to the best of their ability and demonstrate their competency in the standards.

Adapted Physical Education

The district provides ongoing citywide support to physical education teachers, classroom teachers, and other supportive staff through the services of an itinerant physical education/special education specialist. These services include:

  • Motor skills and fitness assessments
  • Special Olympics and adaptive sports assistance (and equipment training)
  • Adventure education for special populations
  • Support for teachers with assistive technology or the development/implementation of differentiated instruction for students with disabilities

For more information, please call the Adapted Physical Education team at (414) 475-8850.