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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to adapting the public school physical education |
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curriculum to accommodate the needs of students with mental |
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disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002(d), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) The physical education curriculum required under |
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Subsection (a)(2)(C) must be sequential, developmentally |
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appropriate, and designed, implemented, and evaluated to enable |
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students to develop the motor, self-management, and other skills, |
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knowledge, attitudes, and confidence necessary to participate in |
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physical activity throughout life. Each school district shall |
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establish specific objectives and goals the district intends to |
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accomplish through the physical education curriculum. In |
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identifying the essential knowledge and skills of physical |
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education, the State Board of Education shall ensure that the |
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curriculum: |
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(1) emphasizes the knowledge and skills capable of |
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being used during a lifetime of regular physical activity; |
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(2) is consistent with national physical education |
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standards for: |
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(A) the information that students should learn |
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about physical activity; and |
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(B) the physical activities that students should |
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be able to perform; |
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(3) requires that, on a weekly basis, at least 50 |
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percent of the physical education class be used for actual student |
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physical activity and that the activity be, to the extent |
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practicable, at a moderate or vigorous level; |
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(4) offers students an opportunity to choose among |
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many types of physical activity in which to participate; |
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(5) offers students both cooperative and competitive |
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games; |
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(6) meets the needs of students of all physical |
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ability levels, including students who have a [disability,] chronic |
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health problem, disability, including a student who is a person |
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with a mental disability as defined by Section 535.001, Health and |
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Safety Code, or other special need that precludes the student from |
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participating in regular physical education instruction but who |
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might be able to participate in physical education that is suitably |
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adapted and, if applicable, included in the student's |
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individualized education program; |
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(7) takes into account the effect that gender and |
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cultural differences might have on the degree of student interest |
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in physical activity or on the types of physical activity in which a |
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student is interested; |
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(8) teaches self-management and movement skills; |
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(9) teaches cooperation, fair play, and responsible |
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participation in physical activity; |
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(10) promotes student participation in physical |
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activity outside of school; and |
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(11) allows physical education classes to be an |
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enjoyable experience for students. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |