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 Schools, families, and communities can work together to encourage active lifestyles. To achieve this objective, priority recommendations include adoption of school-based curricula and policies that provide quality, daily physical education for all students, encouragement of policies that provide K-12 students with opportunities for physical activity outside of formal PA classes, and provision of opportunities to replace sedentary behaviors, like TV watching. |
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Washington Senate Bill 5093 Declares State's Goals for School Nutrition and Physical Activity
On March 13, Governor Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5093. While much of the Bill concerns access to health care for children, two sections (5 & 6) outline the State's goals for school health including nutrition and physical activity.
Effective July 27, 2007, the following laws will be included in the Revised Code of Washington (chapter 28A.210
16):
It is the goal of Washington state to ensure that:
(1) By 2010, all K-12 districts have school health advisory committees that advise school administration and school board members on policies, environmental changes, and programs needed to support healthy food choice and physical activity and childhood fitness. Districts shall include school nurses or other school personnel as advisory committee members.
(2) By 2010, only healthy food and beverages provided by schools during school hours or for school-sponsored activities shall be available on school campuses. (See full text of Bill for minimum standards)
(3) By 2010, all students in grades one through eight should have at least one hundred fifty minutes of quality physical education every week.
(4) By 2010, all student health and fitness instruction shall be conducted by appropriately certified instructors.
(5) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, any district waiver or exemption policy from physical education requirements for high school students should be based upon meeting both health and fitness curricula concepts as well as alternative means of engaging in physical activity, but should acknowledge students' interest in pursuing their academic interests.
The law also creates a legislative task force on comprehensive school health reform to review and make recommendations on policies, environmental changes, and programs needed to support healthy schools, including but not limited to food choice, physical activity, and childhood fitness. The task force will also review the delivery of health care services in schools. The task force will submit its findings and recommendations to
the senate and house of representatives by October 1, 2008.
Target Audience: K-12 Schools in Washington State
For More information:
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UPCOMING EVENT: Washington Smart Screen Time Summit
The Washington Smart Screen Time Summit is sponsored by the Centers for Public Health Nutrition/Exploratory Center for Obesity Research at the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Health. The goals of this meeting are to provide up-to-date information about the impact of screen time (e.g., TV, videos, DVDs, video games) in childhood and to review existing screen reduction programs. We also plan to gather input from participants that will lead to a comprehensive and coordinated Washington plan for promoting smart screen use. Featured speakers include:
- Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, pediatrician, Director of the UW Child Health Institute, and co-author of The Elephant in the Living Room: Make Television Work for Your Kids.
- Barbara Brock, PhD, Professor of Recreation Management, Eastern Washington University, and author of Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets
Date and Time: Friday, May 18, 2007 - 8:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport
Target Audience: Health professionals, educators, public health practitioners, and childcare providers from throughout Washington State.
Registration: This event is free, but registration is limited. Registration Form
Download: Draft Agenda (pdf)
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UPCOMING EVENT: Washington Healthy Schools Summit
Washington state's first ever Healthy Schools Summit will be held on May 22 & 23, 2007 at the Lynnwood Convention Center in Lynnwood, WA. Attend for one or both days to learn how healthy schools boost academic performance.
Day 1 (Tuesday, May 22nd): Sessions will focus on tools and strategies to make your school a healthier place through keynote speaker Pat Cooper, EdD, Superintendent of Schools, McComb School District, Mississippi and through a variety of sessions from people in the field. The day also includes special sessions for schools using The Great Body Shop health education curricula. Day 1 is geared primarily toward school professionals and partnering agencies with a focus is on boosting academic achievement through healthy schools.
Day Two (Wednesday, May 23rd ): Focuses on the Safe Routes to Schools (SRtS) movement featuring keynote Tracy McMillan of the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches and studies children's transportation issues through a joint lens of Community and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering and Social Work. Dr. McMillan will help your SRtS team lay the plans for success. Choose from a host of breakout sessions and collaborate with others from around the state to advance SRtS in your community. Day 2's intended audience expands to include school families, PTAs, community organizations, law enforcement, design and health professionals.
Registration
FREE Clock hours are available for both days!
For more information:
Event Flyer
Day at a Glance for Day 1
Hotel Information
Carolyn Kramer, MPH
STEPS Schools Coordinator
Seattle, Tukwila & Highline School Districts
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