The MAHPERD Mission Statement

The Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) is a non-profit organization for professionals and students dedicated to:

Promoting healthy active lifestyles
Advocating for quality programs
Providing quality professional development opportunities
Promoting leadership in each of the disciplines
Recognizing outstanding professionals and quality programs
Supporting research initiatives
Disseminating research findings

MAHPERD promotes liaisons with allied organizations and memberships in Eastern District Association (EDA) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

GOALS

As fundamental, continuing basic purpose, MAHPERD exists:

For ongoing EDUCATION, providing basic contemporary and historic information for both the continuing education of its members, and for the benefit and appreciation of external constituencies and the Public at large.
As a COMMUNICATION link, internally for members and externally with/for other individuals or organizations having interest in, influence on, or authority over education in general and the allied disciplines in particular.
To provide quality opportunities for the on‑going growth and development of current and future HPERD professionals through such as written articles, oral presentations, and progressive leadership challenges within and without the Association.
To help stimulate, and to particularly recognize and reward significant and worthwhile Achievement in Quality Programs, Service, Research, Innovation and the like by skilled and dedicated Individuals in these allied disciplines and professions.
To foster full inclusion in these disciplines/professions without regard to race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or perceived physical limitation.
To apply its resources wisely to appropriately assist in maximizing the contribution of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to the Quality of Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond.

Specific OBJECTIVES

The short term and longer range end results specifically sought by the Association at this time include but may not be limited to:

Reaffirmation or establishment of requirements and guidelines for School Programs of Physical Education and Health Education which are of both appropriate content and sufficient "Frequency, Intensity, and Duration" as to be able to provide meaningful results contributing to long term quality of life;
Reaffirmation of stringent certification and recertification requirements in the allied disciplines assuring that they will be taught by fully trained professionals with "discipline specific" credentials to do so;
Creation and implementation of an ongoing plan to develop and maintain greater understanding, appreciation and value of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Massachusetts Schools, and to thereby increase cooperation and support of key agencies and individuals for quality in these essential Educational programs.