Citing Health Concerns, Senate Education Committee Approves Student Physical Education Bill

Legislation seeking to improve children's health by improving physical education and fitness requirements passed the Senate Education Committee yesterday, the Contra Costa Times reports. The bill (SB 1868), sponsored by Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), would:

• Require that the state require schools to offer "quality" physical education programs;
  
• Require 11th and 12th graders to take physical education classes if they have not passed the state's Fitnessgram test, which measures general fitness;
  
• Permit the state to use Fitnessgram results to determine "distinguished schools" ratings; and
  
• Require the test results to be sent home to parents;
  
• Mandate that all schools include Fitnessgram results in their annual accountability report card (LaMar, Contra Costa Times, 5/2).