P.E. Minimums Costly to Schools & Students

H.83, a bill to specify the minimum requirements of physical education for students, is awaiting House action.  H.83 would require P.E. weekly minimums of 200 minutes for elementary students and 225 minutes for middle/high school students in public and private schools.  AASB and superintendents testified against the bill because the proposal is not workable for many schools, particularly high schools.

School board members share the goal of increasing opportunities for P.E. for students and commend the bill for acknowledging student health issues.  Local boards work to address the many factors affecting student health in a comprehensive manner at the board table.  Physical education classes, however, are only one component.  With accountability and achievement requirements for K-12 students, board members have a legitimate question:  how can schools do it all? 

The resources needed to implement the new P.E. minimums would be additional funding and additional time for schedules.  The bill would require substantial new numbers of physical education teachers to accommodate every student and the current school day would have to be extended to incorporate the time.  For students, the new requirement threatens their course offerings and would compromise their ability to take advanced courses, electives, band and career tech options.  Although H.83 is a simple proposal at first glance, its potential impact is very complicated and expensive. 

The mandatory P.E. minimums are costly.  For high schools alone, H.83 would cost the education trust fund an estimated $46.8 million to implement.  If H.83 passes without accompanying funding, school boards would have to pick up the tab locally for the unfunded mandate.  Local school boards already are forming worst-case scenarios for budget shortfall predictions in their school systems.  Neither the state nor locals can afford the financial impact of H.83.

In addition, current curriculum in many high schools could not incorporate the bill’s mandate and would require a complete overhaul.  While reassessment of curriculum is constructive, AASB prefers that academic curriculum requirements be recommended and adopted by the state Department and Board of Education. 

Schools are trying to address the problem of childhood obesity problem comprehensively through nutrition and fitness.  The state Board of Education has implemented changes in school lunch rooms.  Vending machine offerings have changed to help students make healthy choices.  School systems are pioneering ways to address wellness and fitness through public/private partnerships as well.  Some of the programs include: KidFit; Wellness, Academics & You (WAY); Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL); and “Doc-to-Schools” Wellness Project.

AASB believes that academic curriculum requirements, including physical education, should be recommended by the state Department of Education and adopted by the state Board of Education.  The department is strengthening fitness and nutrition programs to promote healthier lifestyles critical to student achievement.  School boards urge lawmakers to oppose H.83.

FYI--The Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) is concerned about the impact of this bill on the AgriScience Program in public schools.

April 2008