Concerns over compliance with New Jersey's physical education laws took center stage at the Wall Township Board of Education meeting on September 16, 2025. Parents and stakeholders voiced their frustrations regarding the district's current curriculum plan, which they argue falls short of state requirements.

A parent representative highlighted that New Jersey mandates 150 minutes of physical education and health instruction per week for elementary students. However, Wall Township students currently receive only 76 minutes of gym class, scheduled twice a week. The district attempts to compensate for this shortfall by counting health instruction delivered during morning meetings, led by homeroom teachers. This practice, however, is seen as a direct violation of legislative law S 858, passed in 2019, which requires certified PE and health teachers for grades K-6.

The parent expressed concern that the morning meeting time, which runs from 9:05 to 9:20 AM, is insufficient for meaningful health instruction, as teachers are also tasked with attendance, the pledge of allegiance, and lunch orders. Furthermore, there is no established curriculum or grading system for health education, unlike other subjects.

At Wall Intermediate, the situation is similarly troubling. The new AB schedule provides students with only 102 minutes of PE every other week, raising questions about how the district plans to meet the 150-minute requirement. Parents have previously raised these concerns, and even PE teachers from neighboring districts have warned the administration about potential legal violations.

The meeting underscored the urgent need for the district to address these compliance issues and develop a clear plan to ensure that students receive the physical education mandated by state law. As discussions continue, parents and educators alike are eager to see how the district will respond to these pressing concerns.