| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to physical education; amending s. |
| 3 | 1003.455, F.S.; adding requirements regarding a school |
| 4 | district's physical education policy; adding a condition |
| 5 | to existing physical education requirements; requiring |
| 6 | physical education in grades 6 through 8; providing |
| 7 | exceptions under certain circumstances; providing an |
| 8 | effective date. |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Section 1. Section 1003.455, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 13 | to read: |
| 14 | 1003.455 Physical education; assessment.-- |
| 15 | (1) It is the responsibility of each district school board |
| 16 | to develop a physical education program that stresses physical |
| 17 | fitness and encourages healthful, active lifestyles and to |
| 18 | encourage all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 to |
| 19 | participate in physical education. Physical education shall |
| 20 | consist of physical activities of at least a moderate intensity |
| 21 | level and for a duration sufficient to provide a significant |
| 22 | health benefit to students, subject to the differing |
| 23 | capabilities of students. All physical education programs and |
| 24 | curricula must be reviewed by a certified physical education |
| 25 | instructor. |
| 26 | (2) Each district school board shall adopt a written |
| 27 | physical education policy that details the school district's |
| 28 | physical education program, the and expected program outcomes, |
| 29 | the benefits of physical education, and the availability of one- |
| 30 | on-one counseling concerning the benefits of physical education. |
| 31 | (3) Each district school board, except as otherwise |
| 32 | permitted under subsection (4), shall provide: |
| 33 | (a) One hundred fifty 150 minutes of physical education |
| 34 | each week, of which at least 30 consecutive minutes must be |
| 35 | provided on any day that physical education is provided, for |
| 36 | students in kindergarten through grade 5 and students in grade 6 |
| 37 | who are enrolled in a school that contains one or more |
| 38 | elementary grades; and |
| 39 | (b) Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, one class |
| 40 | period per day, or the equivalent, of physical education for one |
| 41 | semester of each school year for students in grade 6 who are |
| 42 | enrolled in a school that does not contain an elementary grade |
| 43 | and for students in grades 7 and 8. |
| 44 |
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| 45 | Students enrolled in such instruction shall be reported through |
| 46 | the periodic student membership surveys, and records of such |
| 47 | enrollment shall be audited under pursuant to s. 1010.305. Such |
| 48 | instruction may be provided by any instructional personnel as |
| 49 | defined in s. 1012.01(2), regardless of certification, who are |
| 50 | designated by the school principal. Each district school board |
| 51 | is encouraged to provide 225 minutes of physical education each |
| 52 | week for students in grades 6 through 8. |
| 53 | (4) A district school board is not required to provide |
| 54 | physical education for a student in grade 6 who is enrolled in a |
| 55 | school that does not contain an elementary grade and for |
| 56 | students in grades 7 and 8 if: |
| 57 | (a) The parent requests, in writing, prior to the |
| 58 | student's enrollment, an exemption from the physical education |
| 59 | requirement for that school year. The parent may make such a |
| 60 | written request for each school year the student is in grade 6, |
| 61 | grade 7, or grade 8; or |
| 62 | (b) The schedule for the student's courses of study cannot |
| 63 | be modified to provide adequate time for physical education |
| 64 | without interfering with the student's normal progression or |
| 65 | enrollment in a remedial course. |
| 66 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |