AN ACT Relating to assessing physical education practices in public schools; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, all school districts must conduct an annual assessment of their physical education programs. The assessment must include:

(a) A summary of the amount of physical education instruction being offered in each school within the district. The summary required by this subsection (1)(a) must include the following:

(i) The total number of students in physical education programs;

(ii) The average class size, by school, for the physical education instruction periods within the district;

(iii) The average number of days per school year that students are receiving physical education instruction;

(iv) The average number of class periods, blocks, or applicable measurement per week of physical education; and

(v) The average number of total instructional minutes per week of physical education received by students, including the average amount received per student;

(b) An indication of whether the schools within the district are using a planned, K-12 sequential physical education curriculum that adheres to national and state standards for physical education, including a statement of whether this curriculum is systematically reviewed and updated;

(c) The total number of physical education instructors of the district who possess a valid health and fitness endorsement, and for physical education instructors who do not possess a valid health and fitness endorsement, a plan for insuring that those instructors will seek the endorsement and demonstrate progress in doing so;

(d) An indication whether the district or schools within the district are implementing the presidential youth fitness program or a similar program that integrates student fitness assessments, annual professional development for teachers that is specific to their field, and recognition for students who are achieving a healthy fitness zone. If the district or schools within the district are implementing the presidential youth fitness program or a similar program, the information required by this subsection (1)(d) must indicate whether individual fitness program reports are being provided to students and parents or guardians, and whether aggregate data about these fitness programs is being provided to the office of the superintendent of public instruction;

(e) An assessment of whether the physical education programs of the district have appropriate equipment and adequate facilities for students to engage in the recommended amount and intensity of physical education;

(f) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district permit students to be excused from participating in physical education programs;

(g) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district permit students to be excused from participating in physical education programs to allow students to prepare for other classes or standardized tests;

(h) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district, instead of issuing excuses from participating in physical education programs, offer modifications or adaptations to physical education programs that allow students with disabilities to participate in these programs;

(i) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district allow teachers or administrators to exclude students from physical education programs for disciplinary reasons;

(j) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district offer other physical activity opportunities including, but not limited to, safe routes to school, classroom activity breaks, and club, intramural, or team sports;

(k) An indication of whether the district or schools within the district have requirements for fitness, motor skills, cognitive, and effective assessments in physical education that are based on student improvement and knowledge gain; and

(l) An indication of whether physical education course grades are included, either throughout the district or in schools within the district, in the calculation of grade point averages, class rank, and academic recognition programs, including honor roll, in the same manner as other subject areas.

(2) The results of the annual assessment required by subsection (1) of this section:

(a) Must be available to the public and posted on the web site of the district within one year of the collection of assessment data;

(b) Must be submitted to the office of the superintendent of public instruction within one year of the collection of data by the school district. Information submitted in accordance with this subsection must be in accordance with requirements developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction; and

(c) Should be integrated into the district's school wellness policy.

(3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must compile and summarize the annual assessments submitted in accordance with subsection (2) of this section and must make the summaries and individual district assessments available to the public in an easy-to-access form on the agency's web site, within one year of data being submitted to the agency.

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