DAVIE, Florida (AP) -- Elementary school students must have at least a half-hour of physical education each day under a bill signed Thursday by health-conscious Gov. Charlie Crist.
Crist and state lawmakers say the requirement, which takes effect with the new school year in August, can help prevent childhood obesity and related health problems. A state task force found in 2003 that millions of schoolchildren were at risk for Type 2 diabetes and other ailments because of poor exercise and nutrition habits.
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From CNN.com, posted on this site May 30, 2007
The Legislature recognizes that there is a problem with Mississippi student inactivity and obesity * * *, and therefore requires the following guidelines for school district physical education, health education and fitness classes: Kindergarten through Grade 8: One hundred fifty (150) minutes per week of activity-based instruction as defined by the State Board of Education and forty-five (45) minutes per week of health education instruction; Grades 9 through 12: 1/2 Carnegie unit requirement in physical education for graduation. All instruction in physical education and health education must be based on the most current state standards provided by the Mississippi State Department of Education.
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