| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to physical education; amending s. |
| 3 | 1001.11, F.S.; requiring the Commissioner of Education to |
| 4 | provide Internet access to information concerning |
| 5 | professional development in physical education; amending |
| 6 | s. 1003.01, F.S.; defining the term "physical education"; |
| 7 | amending s. 1003.455, F.S.; requiring district school |
| 8 | boards to provide specified physical education for certain |
| 9 | students; requiring reporting for funding purposes and |
| 10 | auditing of records; requiring the State Board of |
| 11 | Education to review and revise the Sunshine State |
| 12 | Standards related to physical education; providing an |
| 13 | effective date. |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 16 |
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| 17 | Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 1001.11, |
| 18 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 19 | 1001.11 Commissioner of Education; other duties.-- |
| 20 | (7) The commissioner shall make prominently available on |
| 21 | the department's website the following: links to the Internet- |
| 22 | based clearinghouse for professional development regarding |
| 23 | physical education which is established under s. 1012.98(4)(d); |
| 24 | the school wellness and physical education policies and other |
| 25 | resources required under s. 1003.453(1) and (2); and other |
| 26 | Internet sites that provide professional development for |
| 27 | elementary teachers of physical education as defined in s. |
| 28 | 1003.01(16). These links must provide elementary teachers with |
| 29 | information concerning current physical education and nutrition |
| 30 | philosophy and best practices that result in student |
| 31 | participation in physical activities that promote lifelong |
| 32 | physical and mental well-being. |
| 33 | Section 2. Subsection (16) is added to section 1003.01, |
| 34 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 35 | 1003.01 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term: |
| 36 | (16) "Physical education" means the development or |
| 37 | maintenance of skills related to strength, agility, flexibility, |
| 38 | movement, and stamina, including dance; the development of |
| 39 | knowledge and skills regarding teamwork and fair play; the |
| 40 | development of knowledge and skills regarding nutrition and |
| 41 | physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle; and the |
| 42 | development of positive attitudes regarding sound nutrition and |
| 43 | physical activity as a component of personal well-being. |
| 44 | Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 1003.455, Florida |
| 45 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 46 | 1003.455 Physical education; assessment.-- |
| 47 | (3) Each district school board shall provide 150 minutes |
| 48 | of physical education each week for students in kindergarten |
| 49 | through grade 5. Students enrolled in such instruction shall be |
| 50 | reported through the periodic student membership surveys, and |
| 51 | records of such enrollment shall be audited pursuant to s. |
| 52 | 1010.305. Such instruction may be provided by any instructional |
| 53 | personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2), regardless of |
| 54 | certification, who are designated by the school principal. Each |
| 55 | district school board is encouraged to provide 150 minutes of |
| 56 | physical education each week for students in kindergarten |
| 57 | through grade 5 and 225 minutes of physical education each week |
| 58 | for students in grades 6 through 8. |
| 59 | Section 4. During the 2007-2008 school year, the State |
| 60 | Board of Education shall review and revise the Sunshine State |
| 61 | Standards related to physical education to reflect state-of-the- |
| 62 | art philosophy and practice. The revised standards shall |
| 63 | emphasize the role of physical education in promoting the |
| 64 | knowledge, skills, and attitudes that prepare students to make |
| 65 | healthy lifelong nutrition and physical fitness choices. |
| 66 | Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |