[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1678-S1680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. HARKIN:
S. 576. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 to improve standards for physical education; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the FIT Kids Act.
That first word, FIT, an acronym for Fitness Integrated with Teaching,
an important concept that I am proud to promote today. The FIT Kids Act
encourages schools to provide children with quality physical education
in an effort to promote health and wellness throughout their lives.
Since the 1970s, the incidence of obesity has more than doubled for
preschool children aged 2-5 years and for young people aged 12-19
years; for children aged 6-11 years, it has more than tripled. Since
there are many reasons for this public health crisis, we know that
addressing it will require multiple solutions. An important place we
can address childhood obesity is in our schools. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has found that fewer than 10 percent of
our public schools offer daily physical education for the entire school
year for all students. Let me repeat that, fewer than 10 percent. Our
kids deserve better. Research has shown that physical education not
only promotes health and wellness, it also has a direct correlation
with kids' academic performance in school.
The FIT Kids Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act to shine a light on the availability of quality physical education
for all public school children through grade 12, and to ensure they
receive important health and nutritional information. As Chairman of
the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I have been
working in a bipartisan way with my colleagues on the committee to
reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
With the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act, we must fix the things that are not working, while protecting the
goals of the bill, including narrowing achievement gaps. It is truly
alarming to see the discrepancies in achievement between children in
the United States and children abroad. Here in the U.S., despite making
some progress, we continue to have wide and persistent achievement gaps
that are leaving behind children of color, young people from
disadvantaged backgrounds, and children with disabilities.
In addition to achievement gaps, I am also concerned about the trends
in physical education in schools across the Nation. Currently, schools
are decreasing the amount of free play or physical activity that
children engage in during school hours. Only about one-third of
elementary children have daily physical education, and less than one-
fifth have extracurricular physical activity programs at their schools.
I know that difficult resource decisions have to be made but we cannot
short-change our children's health. This is short-sighted for two big
reasons: One, we are fighting a childhood obesity epidemic of
frightening proportions. And, two, as research shows, and as any
teacher or parent knows, kids have to have time to play and burn off
energy if they are going to be in a proper frame of mind to learn.
The association between physical activity and academic achievement is
an important part of why we need to continue to support physical
education. Broad evidence suggests a positive relationship between
physical activity and grade point average, rate of learning, memory,
attention span, and classroom behavior, as well as cognitive, social,
and motor skill development. Research indicates that youth who report
engaging in physical activity at school are 20 percent more likely than
their less active peers to earn good grades in math or English.
Furthermore, data suggests that children who are overweight have
greater risk for school absenteeism than their peers who are average
weight. In order for our Nation's children to be successful students,
we must do all that we can to ensure they are in school and ready to
learn.
This legislation will ensure that parents receive critical
information regarding the time and resources devoted to their children
for a quality physical education. Specifically, the bill will require
schools, local educational agencies, and state educational agencies to
publicly report on the quantity and quality of physical education
courses provided using nationally recognized guidelines and standards.
This will give parents the information they need to assess whether
their children are receiving an appropriate physical education.
Furthermore, the FIT Kids Act would give parents the tools necessary to
encourage and support a healthy and active lifestyle, including
increased physical activity during and outside the school day, and
nutritious eating habits both at home and at school.
In addition, the bill promotes professional development for teachers
and school principals to promote healthy lifestyles and physical
activity through evidence-based curricula, and thereby boost students'
ability to learn more effectively. The bill also promotes physical
activity in after-school programs and amends the school counseling
program to take into account both students' emotional wellbeing and
their physical wellbeing.
Finally, this legislation authorizes research on the ways physical
activity can be incorporated into all aspects of the school day, the
impact of physical activity on students' readiness to learn, and the
best ways to measure student progress in increasing physical activity.
The FIT Kids Act shines a spotlight on children's health and how our
schools can play a greater role in teaching our children healthy
behaviors. As we move forward in reauthorizing the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, we cannot neglect the importance of proper
physical education. We know that sedentary lifestyles that begin in
childhood can lead to number of major chronic diseases that affect
their health and wellbeing in adulthood. Accordingly, we owe it to
American students to teach them healthy behaviors and the importance of
physical activity, and how these lessons will benefit them throughout
their lives. The FIT Kids Act provides the framework to accomplish
this. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 576
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fitness Integrated with
Teaching Kids Act'' or the ``FIT Kids Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
[[Page S1679]]
(1) Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in
the United States.
(2) Obesity-related diseases cost the United States economy
more than $117,000,000,000 every year.
(3) The prevalence of overweight in children between the
ages of 6 and 11 years increased from 4.0 percent in 1971-
1974 to 17.5 percent in 2001-2004, and the prevalence of
overweight in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 years
increased from 6.1 percent to 17.0 percent.
(4) More than 9,000,000 children and adolescents between
the ages of 6 and 19 years are considered overweight on the
basis of being in the 95th percentile or higher of BMI values
in the 2000 CDC growth chart for the United States.
(5) If children do not become more active and healthy, one-
third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from
diabetes at some point in their lives.
(6) Of all United States deaths from major chronic disease,
23 percent are linked to sedentary lifestyles that now begin
at childhood.
(7) Adolescents who are overweight have a 70-80 percent
chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk
for chronic disease, disability, and death.
(8) A recent study showed that plaque build-up in the neck
arteries of children who are obese or those with high
cholesterol is similar to those levels seen in middle-aged
adults.
(9) A decline in physical activity has contributed to the
unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity.
(10) The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
recommend that children engage in 60 minutes or more of
physical activity each day.
(11) In a 2005 Government Accountability Office report on
key strategies to include in programs designed to target
childhood obesity, ``increasing physical activity'' was
identified as the most important component in any such
program.
(12) Part of the decline in physical activity has been in
our Nation's schools, where physical education programs have
been cut back in the past 2 decades.
(13) The national standard for physical education frequency
is 150 minutes per week in elementary school and 225 minutes
per week in middle school and high school.
(14) Only 3.8 percent of elementary school, 7.9 percent of
middle school, and 2.1 percent of high schools provide daily
physical education or its equivalent for the entire school
year, and 22 percent of schools do not require students to
take any physical education at all.
(15) Among children ages 9 to 13, 61.5 percent do not
participate in any organized physical activity during out-of-
school hours.
(16) Regular physical activity is associated with a
healthier, longer life and a lower risk of cardiovascular
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and some
cancers.
(17) Research suggests a strong correlation between
children's fitness and their academic performance as measured
by grades in core subjects and standardized test scores.
(18) Approximately 81 percent of adults believe daily
physical education should be mandatory in schools.
SEC. 3. REPORT CARDS.
Section 1111(h) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(C)--
(A) in clause (vii), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in clause (viii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(ix) the amount of time students spend in required
physical education as measured against the national standards
of 150 minutes per week of required physical education for
students in elementary school and 225 minutes per week of
required physical education for students in middle school and
secondary school;
``(x) the percentage of local educational agencies in the
State that have a required, age-appropriate physical
education curriculum for all students in elementary schools,
middle schools, and secondary schools that adheres to
national guidelines adopted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and State standards;
``(xi) the percentage of elementary school and secondary
school physical education teachers who are State licensed or
certified as physical education teachers; and
``(xii) the percentage of schools that have a School Health
Council that includes parents, students, representatives of
the school food authority, representatives of the school
board, school administrators and members of the public and
that meets monthly to promote a healthy school
environment.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(i)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(III) the percentage of elementary school and secondary
school physical education teachers who are State certified as
physical education teachers; and
``(IV) the amount of square feet of indoor and outdoor
facilities that are primarily used for physical education and
the amount of square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities
that are primarily used for physical activity; and''; and
(3) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(III) the percentage of elementary school and secondary
school physical education teachers who are State certified as
physical education teachers; and
``(IV) the number of meetings of a School Health Council
that includes parents, students, representatives of the
school food authority, representatives of the school board,
school administrators and members of the public during the
school year.''.
SEC. 4. PROMOTING PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ACTIVITY IN SCHOOL
PROGRAMS.
(a) Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programs.--
Section 5421 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7245) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(H), by inserting ``, which design
and implementation shall take into consideration the overall
emotional and physical well-being of students'' after ``the
program''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(E), by inserting ``health, the
importance of regular physical activity,'' after
``relationships,''.
(b) Smaller Learning Communities.--Section 5441(b) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7249(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(14) How the local educational agency will ensure that
smaller learning communities support healthy lifestyles
including participation in physical education and physical
activity by all students and access to nutritious food and
nutrition education.''.
(c) 21st Century Community Learning Centers.--
(1) Purpose; definitions.--Section 4201 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7171) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``nutrition
education programs, structured physical activity programs,''
after ``recreation programs,''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ``nutrition
education, structured physical activity,'' after
``recreation,''.
(2) Local competitive grant program.--Section 4204(b)(2) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7174(b)(2))--
(A) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (O);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following:
``(N) an assurance that the proposed program is coordinated
with the physical education and health education programs
offered during the school day; and''.
(3) Local activities.--Section 4205(a) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7175(a))--
(A) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(13) programs that support a healthy, active lifestyle,
including nutritional education and regular, structured
physical activity programs.''.
(d) Parental Involvement.--Section 1118 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) involve and train parents in encouraging and
supporting a healthy and active lifestyle, including
increased physical activity during and outside the school
day, and nutritional eating habits in the home and at school;
and'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting after
``Achievement'' the following: ``by Healthy, Active
Students'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``standards.'' and inserting ``standards and to ensure that
the children lead healthy, active lives.''; and
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting after ``supportive'' the following: ``,
healthy,'';
(ii) by striking ``; and participating'' and inserting ``;
participating''; and
(iii) by inserting after ``extracurricular time'' the
following: ``and supporting their children in leading a
healthy and active life, such as by providing healthy meals
and snacks, encouraging participation in physical education,
and sharing in physical activity outside the school day'';
and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (14) as
paragraphs (7) through (15), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6)(A) shall ensure that parents and teachers have
information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle,
including nutritional eating habits, physical education, and
physical activity, to an effective learning environment; and
``(B) shall coordinate activities with parents and teachers
to ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals
and snacks, and have ample opportunities for physical
education and physical activity during and outside the school
day;''.
[[Page S1680]]
SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.
(a) State Applications.--Section 2112(b) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6612(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(13) A description of how the State educational agency
will use funds under this part to provide professional
development that is directly related to the fields of
physical education and health education to physical education
teachers and health education teachers to ensure that
children are leading healthy, active lifestyles that are
conducive to effective learning.''.
(b) State Use of Funds.--Section 2113(c)(6) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6613(c)(6)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``, in cases in which a State educational
agency determines support to be appropriate,''; and
(2) by inserting ``, physical education teachers, and
health education teachers'' after ``pupil services
personnel''.
(c) Local Applications and Needs Assessment.--Section
2122(b)(9) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(b)(9)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) improve the health and eating habits of students and
increase rates of physical activity of students.''.
(d) Local Use of Funds.--Section 2123(a)(3) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6623(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) effective strategies for improving the healthy
habits of students and the rates of physical activity by
students that result in the ability to learn more
effectively; and''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) provide training, with curricula that is evidence-
based, in how to teach physical education and health
education that results in the ability of students to learn
more effectively.''.
SEC. 6. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into a contract
with the National Research Council of the National Academy of
Sciences to--
(1) examine and make recommendations regarding--
(A) various means that may be employed to incorporate
physical activity into Head Start and childcare settings,
elementary, middle, and high school settings, and before- and
after-school programs; and
(B) innovative and effective ways to increase physical
activity for all students;
(2) study the impact of health, level of physical activity,
and amount of physical education on students' ability to
learn and maximize performance in school; and
(3) study and provide specific recommendations for--
(A) effectively measuring the progress of students, at the
school level, in improving their health and well-being,
including improving their--
(i) knowledge, awareness, and behavior changes, related to
nutrition and physical activity;
(ii) cognitive development, and fitness improvement, in
physical education;
(iii) knowledge of lifetime physical activity and health
promotion;
(iv) decrease in obesity; and
(v) levels on overall health indicators; and
(B) effectively measuring the progress of students, at the
school level, in increasing physical activity.
______