Stretched too thin? The relationship between insufficient resource allocation and physical education instructional time and assessment practices

•Many elementary schools do not provide students adequate physical education time.•Equipment budgets for physical education programs are minimal, or nonexistent.•Physical education-specific continuing education was required by half of schools.•Most schools that required continuing education provided financial support.•When teaching loads are too high, physical education practices are not optimal.

With provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act, attention to physical education (PE) programs in school will be crucial for developing well-rounded students. We assessed the availability of resources that have the potential to impact PE (staffing, continuing education, annual PE equipment budgets) in a nationally-representative sample of 640 U.S. public elementary schools. Higher student-to-PE teacher ratios were associated with students not receiving adequate instruction. Equipment budgets were minimal (median = $500) and 30% of schools had no budget at all. Additional financial support from federal and state education agencies would help schools to better meet recommendations for PE.