STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2379

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2697

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2697 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to implement physical education instruction for grades kindergarten through eight.

 

     This measure also:

 

     (1)  Allows credit to be granted for certain athletic and co‑curricular activities;

 

     (2)  Provides for the recruitment of licensed physical education teachers; and

 

     (3)  Makes appropriations for the foregoing.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and twenty-one individuals.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the American Heart Association, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Hawaii State Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition, and twelve individuals.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by twelve individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that childhood and adolescent obesity are at an all-time high and can lead to the development of life-long health problems.  Your Committee further finds that physical activity can have beneficial effects on one's long-term mental and physical health.  Studies have indicated that individuals who lead physically active lives as children are more likely to continue a pattern of physical activity into adulthood and are also associated with having higher levels of academic achievement.  This measure ensures appropriate physical education instruction for students in grades kindergarten through six, after-school and summer programs for students, physical education instruction that is in accordance with the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, and the provision of specialized credit for certain approved after-school athletic activities.

 

     Your Committee received testimony regarding concerns and confusion with the possible provision of specialized credit for approved after-school athletic activity and other co-curricular activities.  Your Committee believes that our public schools must provide our students with appropriate physical activities and programs that promote a commitment to lifelong physical activity.  Many athletic pursuits are endeavors that can teach and promote physical health in areas that students may be able to continue to participate for many years and decades to come, including golf, swimming, and tennis.  Such athletic activity should be carefully examined to determine whether there is alignment with current Department of Education standards and the propriety of the eligibility for earning credit.  Thus, your Committee determines that in order to clear up any confusion or concerns regarding the provision of specialized credit for certain activities, the Department of Education should examine the greater picture of those activities for which students should earn specialized or elective credits.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Education to develop and recommend to the Board of Education a policy for the issuance of specialized credit for participation in after‑school athletic activity and other co‑curricular activities by school year 2009-2010; and

 

     (2)  Removing language that required participation in after-school athletic activity or other co-curricular activity to be certified by a licensed physical education teacher as being generally in accordance with the standards established by the Department of Education for physical education instruction in order to be granted specialized credit therefor.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2697, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2697, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair