As physical education is a discipline centered on the development of the person's physical, intellectual, emotional and social dimensions, programs were prepared to reflect the diversity of students at all levels of education as well as those with special needs. All physical educators were expected to adapt their instruction to the characteristics and developmental level of their pupils. The content of physical education involved the study of the different movements performed either to increase the ability of the body to move, or to master the challenges met in the physical environment for the purpose of achieving body control during locomotor movements and the manipulation of objects, or to express itself and develop the capacity to perform and communicate with others. In January 1997, the Inchausp committee was mandated to propose curriculum changes at the elementary and secondary school levels. This Quebec curriculum assures a basic program from elementary to the end of the first secondary cycle, with a more diversified program at the secondary cycle.
Physical education falls under the personal development domain.
The new mission is to instruct, socialize and qualify students. Thus, new curriculum will be developed for each subject. In the new program, health education is placed under the umbrella of the physical education curriculum. Like all other subject areas, physical education is now under the local scrutiny of the 'Conseil d'establissement' or school board of each city, thus the physical education curriculum could be reduced or altered on their recommendation. Physical education teachers now have increased responsibility to convince parents and local administrators of the importance of physical education.