ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2004 State Policies / Activities

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies enacted in 2004. This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. To view all, press the button located at the top labeled "Expand All."

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

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- Curriculum--Physical Education
LASigned into law 07/2004P-12Relates to the physical activity and nutrition of students. Identifies childhood obesity as a growing problem in Louisiana. Identifies benefits of regular physical activity and healthy eating habits. States purposes of this section are: (1) To promote, encourage, and motivate children of all physical abilities to participate in physical activity for children to reach their full potential as individuals; (2) To promote physical activity and fitness in schools by encouraging innovative physical education programs that consist of physical exertion of a moderate to vigorous intensity level; (3) To promote improved nutritional levels in children by providing for snacks with higher nutritional value during the school day; (4) To inform children and their parents about the importance of physical activity and improved nutrition and the effects of both on positive outcomes. (5) To increase parental awareness of their children's activity and fitness levels. (6) To promote daily physical activity, the enjoyment of physical activity, the improvement of nutritional levels and eating habits and the development of lifelong patterns of physical activity.

Deletes existing provision that, beginning with the 2004-05 school year, schools serving children in grades K-6 provide at least thirty minutes of quality physical activity for students each school day. Replaces with provision that in 2004-05 school year, schools serving children in such grades provide at least thirty minutes of "quality moderate to vigorous" physical activity for students every school day. Requires every public elementary school to annually report to its local board on compliance with this provision. Also requires every local board to annually report to the state board on compliance with this provision. Requires suitably adapted physical activity to be included as part of the individual education plans for students with chronic health problems, other disabling conditions or other special needs that preclude participation in regular physical activity.

Encourages secondary school students not enrolled in a physical education course to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity commensurate with student ability for at least 30 minutes a day.

Requires various state agents, including the department of education and the department of health and hospitals, as well as the American Heart Association, to collaborate to develop an outreach and communication plan consisting of current information and research on health, nutrition and physical education and fitness issues. This plan must be disseminated to every local public school board and made available to parents and students.

Beginning with the 2004-05 school year, requires a public elementary or secondary school selected from each regional education service center region in the state to be annually identified for an outstanding program of physical activity implemented at the school. As funds are available, requires monetary awards to be given these outstanding schools.

Allows any public school serving students in grades 7, 8, 9 or 10 to apply to participate in a three-year pilot program to begin in the 2005-06 school year. Requires the state board to choose up to eight schools from each of the eight regional service districts to participate in the program, striving to achieve equal geographic distribution. Identifies areas of study: (1) An annual assessment that measures aspects of health-related fitness, rather than skill or agility, of the students in participating schools; (2) An assessment of the changes in weight status of the students who are enrolled in participating schools and who are receiving combined nutritional and physical activity intervention versus a nutritional intervention or physical activity intervention alone; and (3) The collection of individual baseline and longitudinal data to measure the improvement of each individual student. No assessment shall compare any student to another. Idenfities state entities required to collaborate to develop the elements of the pilot program and the recommendations for its implementation. Requires every school selected to participate in the program to provide a comprehensive report to the state board at the end of each school year on the effectiveness of the pilot program in accomplishing the pilot program objectives.

States that the pilot program established in this bill must in no way interfere with or replace any effort, purpose, assessment or program implemented by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/04RS/CVT7/OUT/0000LVUO.PDF
Title: S.B. 871
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

VTSigned into law 06/2004P-12The purpose of the act is to encourage wellness programs in Vermont public schools and in Vermont communities.  Wellness programs will be designed to encourage life-long patterns of healthy eating and regular physical exercise among Vermont citizens. Provides for physical activity programs and physical education programs; provides for nutrition education; provides for assistance to school districts on wellness; provides for a definition of nutritious foods. Requires the development of a model school fitness and nutrition policy. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT161.HTM
Title: H.B. 272
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us

ALSigned into law 05/2004P-12Urges schools to provide instruction on healthy lifestyle choices including programs for physical education; urges restrictions on granting waivers for physical education. http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp
Title: S.J.R. 97
Source: Alabama Legislative Web site

FLTo governor 05/2004P-12Creates the "Middle School Reform Act;" provides definitions; prescribes program criteria and content; provides a timeline for implementation; requires an academic performance study of middle grade students and schools with recommendations for increase in performance; requires school improvement plan to include rigorous reading requirement; provides for individual student plans; provides for additions to academic improvement plans; adds criteria to the assessment process for instructional personnel; requires DOE to conduct study on physical education in public schools; requires school districts to implement mandatory physical education under certain circumstances.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0354er.html&Directory=session/2004/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Title: S.B. 354
Source: Florida Legislative Web site

VASigned into law 04/2004P-12Requires local boards to incorporate art, music, and physical education as a part of the instructional program at the elementary school level, and to employ five elementary resource positions per 1,000 students in kindergarten through grade five for art, music, and physical education.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+CHAP0955
Title: H.B. 1014
Source: leg1.state.va.us

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