FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1235

C 80 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Assessing physical education practices in public schools.

Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Riccelli, Harris, Stonier, Bergquist, Caldier, Robinson, Nealey, Stokesbary, Jinkins, McBride, Goodman, Ryu, Frame, Gregerson, Dolan and Ormsby).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

Every public school student in grades 1 through 8 must receive instruction in physical education (PE) as prescribed by rule of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI). Students may be excused from PE course requirements because of physical disability, religious belief, or participation in directed athletics.

All Washington high schools must emphasize the work of PE and carry into effect all PE requirements established by the SPI's rules. Individual students may be excused from participating in PE otherwise required because of physical disability, employment, or religious belief, or because of participation in directed athletics or military science and tactics, or for other good cause.

In 2016 the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) adopted revised K-12 learning standards for health and PE that describe what students should know and be able to do as they progress through school. Although the PE K-12 learning standards that the OSPI adopted are the National Standards adopted by SHAPE (Society for Health and Physical Educators) America, curriculum decisions are made by the local school district in accordance with a district's overall approach to teaching and learning.

Administrative rules adopted by the OSPI for grades 1 through 8 specify that, unless a waiver applies, students must, on average, have at least 100 instructional minutes of PE per week per year. For grades 9 through 12, one credit course or its equivalent must be offered in PE for each grade in the high school program.

The K-12 Data Governance Group (Data Governance Group) in the OSPI was established by the Legislature to assist in the design and implementation of the K-12 data system for financial, student, and educator data. The Data Governance Group includes representatives of the Education Data Center, the OSPI, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the State Board of Education, and school district staff.

Summary:

Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, all school districts must conduct an annual review of their PE programs. The review must consist of numerous provisions, including:

• the number of individual students completing a PE class during the school year;

• the average number of minutes per week of PE received by students in grades 1 through 8, expressed in appropriate reporting ranges;

• the number of students granted waivers from PE requirements;

• an indication of whether all PE classes are taught by instructors who possess a valid health and fitness endorsement;

• the PE class sizes, expressed in appropriate reporting ranges;

• an indication of whether, as a matter of policy or procedure, the district routinely modifies and adapts its PE curriculum for students with disabilities; and

• an indication of whether the district routinely excludes students from PE classes for disciplinary reasons.

School districts must submit the results of the review to the district's wellness committee and the OSPI. Upon receipt of the data, the OSPI must aggregate and analyze the data, summarize the information provided by each district, and post the summarized information, by district, on its website.

The Data Governance Group, in meeting the requirements of the review, must develop the data protocols and guidance for school districts in the collection of data to provide a clearer understanding of PE instructional minutes and certification.

Votes on Final Passage: