BackgroundTo address low state physical education (PE) quantity and quality law implementation in elementary schools, the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) delivered a multilevel intervention (PE Works; 2015-2019), which included a district-led audit of school PE-law implementation, feedback, and coaching with principals. Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) implementation science framework, we assessed the primary multilevel drivers of success for this approach in increasing adherence to PE quantity and quality law.MethodsWe conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with district-level personnel (n=17), elementary school administrators (n=18), and PE teachers (n=6) in 2020-21.ResultsInterview results suggested several key RE-AIM drivers of successful PE law implementation. Reach: Ensure higher-need schools receive the necessary initial support to improve PE and later focus on lower-need schools. Effectiveness: Provide support tailored to school needs, not penalties, to improve PE. Adoption: Increase the priority of PE at both district and school levels (e.g., audit and feedback, themselves, appear to elevate PE’s priority). Streamline data collection and feedback reports; collecting/reporting too much information is burdensome and leads to lack of focus. Involve qualified (i.e., skilled in both school administration and PE programming/pedagogy) district-level personnel to work collaboratively with schools. Implementation: Build strong, trusting district-school relationships. Maintenance: Provide ongoing district-level support to schools and involve parents to advocate for quality PE.ConclusionsPE audits, feedback, and coaching (PEAFC) can guide schools in establishing long-term plans for successfully implementing PE-related law. Future research should examine the impact of PEAFC elsewhere (e.g., secondary schools, other districts).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01479-1.