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Senate Bill 891 |
Senate Author: Nelson et al. |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
House Sponsor: Eissler |
Senate Bill 891 amends the Education Code to require that the mandatory physical education curriculum for public schools be sequential, developmentally appropriate, and designed, implemented, and evaluated to enable students to develop the motor, self-management, and other skills, knowledge, attitudes, and confidence necessary to participate in physical activity throughout life. The bill requires the State Board of Education to ensure that the curriculum (1) emphasizes the knowledge and skills capable of being used during a lifetime of regular physical activity; (2) is consistent with national physical education standards for the information that students should learn about physical activity and the physical activities that students should be able to perform; (3) requires that, on a weekly basis, at least 50 percent of the physical education class be used for actual student physical activity at a moderate or vigorous level; (4) offers students multiple choices of physical activities in which to participate; (5) offers students both cooperative and competitive games; (6) meets the needs of students of all physical ability levels, including students who have a disability, chronic health problem, or other special need who might be able to participate in physical education that is suitably adapted and, if applicable, included in the student's individualized education program; (7) takes into account the effect that gender and cultural differences might have on the degree of student interest in physical activity or on the types of physical activity in which a student is interested; (8) teaches self-management and movement skills, cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation in physical activity; (9) promotes student participation in physical activity outside of school; and (10) allows physical education classes to be an enjoyable experience for students.
Senate Bill 891 extends the existing requirement for students in kindergarten through grade five to participate in moderate or vigorous daily physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school year either as part of the district's physical education curriculum or through structured daily recess activity to a student enrolled in full-day pre-kindergarten and, to the extent practicable, to a student enrolled in prekindergarten on less than a full-day basis in the same manner and degree as a student in full-day prekindergarten.
Senate Bill 891 requires each school district to establish specific objectives and goals it intends to accomplish through the physical education curriculum, including, to the extent practicable, student/teacher ratios that are small enough to achieve the curriculum's purposes and requirements and to ensure the safety of students participating in physical education. The bill requires a district to identify specifically the manner in which student safety will be maintained if the district establishes a student/teacher ratio greater than 45 to 1 in a physical education class. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.