In what decade did all states require physical education in public schools?

During the 1950s, there was a significant shift in public education policies regarding physical education. This decade marked an increased awareness of the importance of physical activity for children's health and well-being, spurred by emerging research on physical fitness and its relation to overall health. As a result, many states began to implement mandates that required public schools to include physical education as part of their curriculum.

This movement was influenced by various factors, such as the post-World War II emphasis on fitness and the establishment of national associations advocating for physical education. Subsequently, by the end of the 1950s, most states had adopted laws or regulations that required some level of physical education instruction in public schools, reflecting a growing consensus on the benefits of physical education.

The trends in subsequent decades, such as the 1960s, saw further developments and refinements in physical education programs, but the initial requirement for PE in public schools was firmly established in the 1950s.