New law makes PE mandatory in Texas schools

by PegNews wire

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 530 into law Wednesday night at the State Capitol breathing new life into physical education (PE) classes and requiring testing of more than four million Texas students. The law is expected to trim growing numbers of overweight and obese children.

Research shows that more than one-third of school kids in Texas suffer from weight problems, and as a result, those children are pre-disposed to adult on-set diabetes.

The new law now defines the level of daily activity -- moderate to vigorous -- Kindergarten through fifth graders are required to exert for 30 minutes during PE or structured recess, which students will begin this fall. Starting the next school year of fall 2008, sixth through eighth graders will be added and must participate in moderate to vigorous activity four out of six school semesters either 30 minutes daily, 125 minutes during a school week or 225 minutes over two school weeks.

"This legislation is critically needed to improve the health of our student population, far too many of whom are overweight and at risk of chronic diseases. We have a responsibility to ensure basic health and exercise for our young people so that they can live long, healthy lives," said Senator Jane Nelson, District 12.

As part of the bill, more than four million third through 12th grade students in 8,000 public and private schools will undergo yearly tests -- the first acting as a baseline. The tests will measure physical performance and its affect on student academic achievement levels, attendance levels, obesity, disciplinary problems and meal programs, specifically if students eat breakfast at home or what they bring for lunch verses eating at the school cafeteria.

"The Greeks believed that a sound body gave you a sound mind. And to prove it, they developed the Olympic games. The traditions of competition and the benefits of physical fitness are only now being fully understood," said Rob Eissler, State Representative, District 15. "This bill takes a big step in incorporating those tenets into our schools in a way that can measure just how fit and how meaningful a student's fitness correlates to academic achievement. Not only will we see better fitness and long-term health, but we will most likely see increases in the academic achievement of our students, a truly win-win scenario."

Source: Cooper Aerobics Center