High stakes assessment: A journey into unknown territory

The purpose of this article is to explore efforts to reform physical education programs and to describe why they might not have been successful in the past. The general education and physical education reform literature is examined with attention to the current standards, assessment, and accountability reform movement prevalent in most states, General themes facilitating South Carolina's effort to gain support for policy initiatives and implement a high stakes assessment program are developed with attention to the political activities essential to gain support for change.