Delay of physical education requirements moves to House floor without opposition

A bill to modify and delay physical education instruction requirements that are scheduled to go into effect in July cleared the House Education Committee on Monday.

Without opposition, the committee sent Senate Bill 4 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation. There is no known opposition to the bill, and it is expected to pass. Delaying the physical education requirements has been a major legislative priority for OSBA this session.

The Legislature set standards for physical education time in 2007 of 150 minutes a week for grades K-5 and 225 minutes per week for grades 6-8 and gave schools until the 2017-18 school year to comply. As of 2016, grades K-5 were providing about half the required minutes and grades 6-8 were short by more than an hour a week on average.

SB 4 would allow an initial two-year delay, followed by a gradual implementation. Grades K-5 would need to comply by the 2020-21 school year, and grades 6-8 would need to comply by the 2022-23 school year. The amended bill includes some technical fixes that make it easier for schools to comply.

During the work session, Rep. Sherrie Sprenger (R- Scio) took the opportunity to support physical education but also to encourage members to avoid enacting bills that would have to be undone or modified later.

“We have to exercise restraint in doing good things,” she said.

- Richard Donovan
Legislative specialist
rdonovan@osba.org