HEALTHY ACTIVE CHILDREN POLICY

POLICY MANUAL

Policy Identification
Priority: High Student Performance
Category: Student Health Issues
Policy ID Number: HSP-S-000

Policy Title: Policy regarding physical education
in the public schools

Current Policy Date: 01/09/2003 – Amended 04/07/2005
Other Historical Information: 
Statutory Reference: 
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Reference Number and Category: 

Healthy Active Children

Section 1. LOCAL SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

1. Each school district shall
   establish and maintain a local School Health Advisory Council to help plan,
   implement, and monitor this policy as
   well as other health issues as part of the coordinated school health plan.

2. The
   local School Health Advisory Council shall be composed of community and school
   representatives from the eight areas of a coordinated school
   health program mentioned in Section 4 (a), representatives from the
   local health
   department and school administration.

Section 2. PHYSICAL EDUCATION

1. To address issues such as overweight, obesity, cardiovascular
   disease, and Type II diabetes, students enrolled in kindergarten
   through eighth
   grades are
   to participate in physical activity as part of the district’s physical
   education curriculum. Elementary schools should consider the benefits
   of and move toward
   having 150 minutes per week with a certified physical education
   teacher throughout the 180-day school year. Middle schools should consider
   the benefits of and
   move toward having 225 minutes per week of Healthful Living Education
   with certified
   health and physical education teachers throughout the 180-day school
   year.

2. The physical education course shall be the environment in
   which students learn, practice and receive assessment on developmentally
   appropriate
   motor skills, social skills, and knowledge as defined in the North
   Carolina Healthful
   Living Standard Course of Study and foster support and guidance
   for being physically active. In order to meet enhanced goals, these
   classes
   should
   be the same class
   size as other regular classes.

Section 3. RECESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

1. Structured/unstructured recess and
   other physical activity (such as, but not limited to, physical activity time,
   physical
   education
   or intramurals)
   shall
   not be taken away from students as a form of punishment. In
   addition, severe and/or inappropriate exercise may not be used as a form
   of punishment for
   students.

2. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical
   activity shall be provided by schools for all K-8 students
   daily. This requirement
   can
   be achieved
   through a regular physical education class and/or through activities
   such as recess, dance, classroom energizers, or other curriculum
   based physical
   education
   activity programs. However, such use of this time should complement
   and not substitute for the physical education program.

3. The physical
   activity required by this section must involve physical exertion of at least
   a moderate to vigorous intensity
   level and for
   a duration sufficient
   to provide a significant health benefit to students.

Section
4. COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS (CSHP)

1. The State Board of Education
   shall make available to each school district a coordinated school health
   model designed
   to address
   health issues of
   children. The program must provide for coordinating the
   following eight components:
   1. safe environment;
   2. physical education;
   3. health education;
   4. staff wellness;
   5. health services;
   6. mental and social health;
   7. nutrition services; and
   8. parental/family involvement.
2. The North Carolina Department of Public
   Instruction shall notify each school district of the availability
   of professional
   development
   opportunities
   and
   provide
   technical assistance in implementing coordinated school
   health programs at the local level.

Section 5. THIS AMENDED
POLICY SHALL BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE 2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR.

1. Each local
   school district shall develop an action plan prepared in collaboration with
   the local School
   Health Advisory
   Council
   to assist in
   the implementation
   of the policy. This action plan shall identify steps
   that need to be taken each
   year to fully implement the policy by the 2006-2007
   school year and shall include a review and appropriate modification
   of existing
   physical
   education
   and health
   curricula.

2. Action plans shall be submitted to the North
   Carolina Department of Public Instruction by July 15, 2004.

3. Progress reports shall
   be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction by July 15,
   2005 and 2006.

4. Beginning July 15, 2007, each local school
   district in collaboration with the local School Health Advisory
   Council
   shall prepare a
   report annually which
   will include the minutes of physical education and/or
   healthful living, physical activity received by students
   in each
   school within the
   district. Indicators
   that will mark successful implementation and evidences
   of completion shall be
   a part of the plan.

5. This report shall be completed by
   July 15th each year and remain on file for a period of 12 months to
   be provided
   upon
   request of
   the North
   Carolina
   Department of Public Instruction and local boards of
   education.

6. Progress
   reports and the annual reports shall also include any
   other information that may be recommended from the
   State Board
   of Education’s Ad
   Hoc Committee studying
   implementation of the physical education and Healthful
   Living programs in kindergarten through eighth grades.