S 634 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve standards for physical education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 18, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. HARKIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve standards for physical education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act’ or the ‘FIT Kids Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Obesity-related diseases cost the United States economy more than $117,000,000,000 every year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The prevalence of overweight in children between the ages of 6 and 11 years increased from 4.0 percent in 1971-1974 to 17.5 percent in 2001-2004, and the prevalence of overweight in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 years increased from 6.1 percent to 17.0 percent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) More than 9,000,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 years are considered overweight on the basis of being in the 95th percentile or higher of BMI values in the 2000 CDC growth chart for the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that, by 2010, 20 percent of children and youth in the United States will be obese.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Of all United States deaths from major chronic disease, 23 percent are linked to sedentary lifestyles that now begin at childhood.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Overweight adolescents have a 70-80 percent chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk for chronic disease, disability, and death.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) A recent study showed that plaque build-up in the neck arteries of obese children or those with high cholesterol is similar to those levels seen in middle-aged adults.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) A decline in physical activity has contributed to the unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children engage in 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) In a 2005 Government Accountability Office report on key strategies to include in programs designed to target childhood obesity, ‘increasing physical activity’ was identified as the most important component in any such program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) Part of the decline in physical activity has been in our Nation’s schools, where physical education programs have been cut back in the past 2 decades.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) The national standard for physical education frequency is 150 minutes per week in elementary school and 225 minutes per week in middle school and high school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Only 3.8 percent of elementary school, 7.9 percent of middle school, and 2.1 percent of high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent for the entire school year, and 22 percent of schools do not require students to take any physical education at all.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Among children ages 9 to 13, 61.5 percent do not participate in any organized physical activity during out-of-school hours.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) Regular physical activity is associated with a healthier, longer life and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) Research suggests a strong correlation between children’s fitness and their academic performance as measured by grades in core subjects and standardized test scores.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) Approximately 81 percent of adults believe daily physical education should be mandatory in schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. REPORT CARDS.

Section 1111(h) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1)(C)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (vii), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (viii), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ix) the amount of time students spend in required physical education as measured against the national standards of 150 minutes per week of required physical education for students in elementary school and 225 minutes per week of required physical education for students in middle school and secondary school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(x) the percentage of local educational agencies in the State that have a required, age-appropriate physical education curriculum for all students in elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools that adheres to national guidelines adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State standards;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(xi) the percentage of elementary school and secondary school physical education teachers who are State licensed or certified as physical education teachers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(xii) the percentage of schools that have a School Health Council that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, representatives of the school board, school administrators and members of the public and that meets monthly to promote a healthy school environment.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(i)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subclause (II), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) the percentage of elementary school and secondary school physical education teachers who are State certified as physical education teachers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) the amount of square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities that are primarily used for physical education and the amount of square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities that are primarily used for physical activity; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) the percentage of elementary school and secondary school physical education teachers who are State certified as physical education teachers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) the number of meetings of a School Health Council that includes parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, representatives of the school board, school administrators and members of the public during the school year.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. PROMOTING PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ACTIVITY IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

(a) Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programs- Section 5421 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7245) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (b)(2)(H), by inserting ‘, which design and implementation shall take into consideration the overall emotional and physical well-being of students’ after ‘the program’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (c)(2)(E), by inserting ‘health, the importance of regular physical activity,’ after ‘relationships,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Smaller Learning Communities- Section 5441(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7249(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(14) How the local educational agency will ensure that smaller learning communities support healthy lifestyles including participation in physical education and physical activity by all students and access to nutritious food and nutrition education.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) 21st Century Community Learning Centers-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS- Section 4201 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7171) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ‘nutrition education programs, structured physical activity programs,’ after ‘recreation programs,’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ‘nutrition education, structured physical activity,’ after ‘recreation,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LOCAL COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM- Section 4204(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7174(b)(2))--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (M), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (O); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(N) an assurance that the proposed program is coordinated with the physical education and health education programs offered during the school day; and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) LOCAL ACTIVITIES- Section 4205(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7175(a))--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) programs that support a healthy, active lifestyle, including nutritional education and regular, structured physical activity programs.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Parental Involvement- Section 1118 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)(2)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) involve and train parents in encouraging and supporting a healthy and active lifestyle, including increased physical activity during and outside the school day, and nutritional eating habits in the home and at school; and’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (d)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting after ‘Achievement’ the following: ‘by Healthy, Active Students’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘standards.’ and inserting ‘standards and to ensure that the children lead healthy, active lives.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by inserting after ‘supportive’ the following: ‘, healthy,’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘; and participating’ and inserting ‘; participating’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by inserting after ‘extracurricular time’ the following: ‘and supporting their children in leading a healthy and active life, such as by providing healthy meals and snacks, encouraging participation in physical education, and sharing in physical activity outside the school day’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (e)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (14) as paragraphs (7) through (15), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6)(A) shall ensure that parents and teachers have information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including nutritional eating habits, physical education, and physical activity, to an effective learning environment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) shall coordinate activities with parents and teachers to ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals and snacks, and have ample opportunities for physical education and physical activity during and outside the school day;’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.

(a) State Applications- Section 2112(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6612(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) A description of how the State educational agency will use funds under this part to provide professional development that is directly related to the fields of physical education and health education to physical education teachers and health education teachers to ensure that children are leading healthy, active lifestyles that are conducive to effective learning.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) State Use of Funds- Section 2113(c)(6) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)(6)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘, in cases in which a State educational agency determines support to be appropriate,’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting ‘, physical education teachers, and health education teachers’ after ‘pupil services personnel’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Local Applications and Needs Assessment- Section 2122(b)(9) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(b)(9)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) improve the health and eating habits of students and increase rates of physical activity of students.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Local Use of Funds- Section 2123(a)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6623(a)(3)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) effective strategies for improving the healthy habits of students and the rates of physical activity by students that result in the ability to learn more effectively; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vi) provide training, with curricula that is evidence-based, in how to teach physical education and health education that results in the ability of students to learn more effectively.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into a contract with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) examine and make recommendations regarding--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) various means that may be employed to incorporate physical activity into Head Start and childcare settings, elementary, middle, and high school settings, and before- and after-school programs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) innovative and effective ways to increase physical activity for all students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) study the impact of health, level of physical activity, and amount of physical education on students’ ability to learn and maximize performance in school; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) study and provide specific recommendations for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) effectively measuring the progress of students, at the school level, in improving their health and well-being, including improving their--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) knowledge, awareness, and behavior changes, related to nutrition and physical activity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) cognitive development, and fitness improvement, in physical education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) knowledge of lifetime physical activity and health promotion;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) decrease in obesity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) levels on overall health indicators; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) effectively measuring the progress of students, at the school level, in increasing physical activity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink