STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1184

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 137

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 137 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER REQUIRING STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT TO TAKE COURSES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education to consider requiring students in grades six, seven, and eight to take courses in physical education and health education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, American Heart Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Pacific Health, Pioneering Healthier Communities, and more than forty-five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that physical education and health education during middle school years is especially important to prevent the onset of risky behaviors.  Your Committee further finds that high quality health education helps students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that they need to make healthy decisions, become health literate, and promote the health of others.  This measure will encourage the Board of Education to reinstate mandatory physical education and health education curricula in public middle and intermediate schools.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 137 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair