ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2011 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 2011. 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
WISigned into law 12/2011P-12Authorizes local boards to allow a pupil who participates in sports or in another organized physical activity, as determined by the school board, to complete an additional 0.5 credit in English, social studies, mathematics, science or health education in lieu of 0.5 credit in physical education.
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/105
Title: S.B. 95 - Section 8 (118.33)
Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov

CAVetoed 10/2011P-12From bill summary: Requires the state board to establish the Health and Fitness Award Program to recognize schools that conduct their physical education courses pursuant to the model content standards and demonstrate that increasing numbers of pupils enrolled in those schools meet minimum standards on the physical performance test designated by the state board. Requires the superintendent of public instruction to use currently collected data and specified eligibility criteria to identify one school from each legislative district in the state to receive recognition, which may include, but would not be limited to, classification as a
distinguished school, being listed on a published public school honor roll, and public commendations by the governor and the legislature. Requires that private funds be used to pay for all of the costs of implementing the program, including the administrative costs of the state department of education, and authorizes the superintendent to receive donations of private funds for purposes of implementing the program.
Requires the state board to establish the program once the department of finance certifies to the superintendent of public instruction that private donations received by the state are sufficient to implement the
program. Also requires the state board to suspend the program if the private donations received are insufficient to complete or continue program implementation.
Bill text: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_200_bill_20110909_enrolled.pdf
Governor's veto message: http://gov.ca.gov/docs/AB_200_Veto_Message.pdf
Title: A.B. 200
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12From bill summary: Limits a school district's required annual physical fitness assessment of students in grade three or higher to students enrolled in a course that satisfies the curriculum requirements for physical education.
Bill text (page 15 of 19): http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/821/billtext/pdf/SB00008F.pdf#navpanes=0
Bill summary: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=821&Bill=SB8
Title: S.B. 8 - Physical Fitness Assessment
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

TXSigned into law 06/2011P-12Amends provisions relating to reporting student performance on a physical fitness assessment instrument to the Texas Education Agency. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00226F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: S.B. 226
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

MESigned into law 05/2011P-12Directs the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Maine Governor's Council on Physical Activity to reconvene the planning and oversight team, known as "PE4ME" and reappoint PE4ME members to further implement plans for improving the health and physical fitness of elementary school children in the state, including the implementation of a pilot project to demonstrate the efficacy of progressive practices involving physical education in elementary schools. Directs the PE4ME to invite elementary schools to volunteer to participate in the pilot project and to select up to 4 elementary schools to serve as pilot project sites, during the 2011-2012 school year. Provides that the elementary schools selected for the pilot project ("the pilot schools") must agree to cooperate with PE4ME in fully implementing PE4ME recommendations for students in kindergarten to grade 8, including meeting national guidelines for providing physical education instruction and physical activity each week, as well as reporting information regarding the health, fitness and academic performance of elementary school children. Provides that the pilot school also must participate in follow-up activities required by PE4ME to evaluate the pilot project following the end of the 2011-2012 school year. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC108.asp
Title: H.P. 939
Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org

TNSigned into law 05/2011P-12Requires local education agencies (LEAs) to incorporate a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity each instructional day for elementary and secondary students. Currently, students are required to have a minimum of 90 minutes of physical activity per instructional week.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB0009.pdf
Title: H.B. 9
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

COSigned into law 04/2011P-12Requires districts and charter schools to adopt policies to incorporate time for physical activity into schedules for elementary students. Spells out the minutes required for physical activity based on the length of time students attend school.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2011a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/9CF56533FEFE87598725780800800FBF?Open&file=1069_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1069
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us/

UTSigned into law 03/2011P-12Expresses support for increased participation by children in outdoor activities and support policies that promote outdoor activities for Utah's children. Requires that a copy of this resolution be sent to, among other recipients, the state office of education. http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/hbillenr/hcr007.pdf
Title: H.C.R. 7
Source: le.utah.gov

VAVetoed 02/2011P-12Requires at least 150 minutes of physical education per week on average during the regular school year for grades K through eight, with a similar goal for high school students. This requirement would go into effect beginning with the 2014 -2015 school year and would not apply to any half-day kindergarten.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+SB966ER+pdf
Title: S.B. 966/H.B. 1644
Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/

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