CA Educ Code Section 51210.1


(a)

(1)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(A)

The Education Code currently mandates 200 minutes of physical education every 10 schooldays for pupils in elementary school. Recent studies have shown that the vast majority of children and youth are not physically fit.

(B)

According to a March 1997 report by the Centers for Disease Control, the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Most of this increase occurred within the last 10 years.

(C)

Nearly 40 percent of children of ages five to eight years have health conditions that significantly increase their risk of early heart disease.

(D)

Some 70 percent of girls, and 40 percent of boys, who are from 6 to 12 years of age do not have enough muscle strength to do more than one pullup.

(E)

Most children lead inactive lives. On the average, first through fourth graders spend two hours watching television on schooldays and spend close to three and one-half hours watching television on weekend days.

(2)

It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature that all children shall have access to a high-quality, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate physical education program on a regular basis.

(b)

(1) Each school district selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to paragraph (2) shall report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Coordinated Compliance Review as to the extent of its compliance with subdivision (g) of Section 51210 for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, during that school year.

(2)

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall select not less than 10 percent of the school districts of the state to report compliance with the provisions set forth in paragraph (1). The school districts selected shall provide a random and accurate sampling of the state as a whole.

(c)

For purposes of determining compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b), the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall not count the time spent in recesses and the lunch period.

(d)

A school district that fails to comply with the existing statutory requirements shall issue a corrective action plan to the State Department of Education in accordance with the Coordinated Compliance Review process.

(e)

This section shall not be applicable to high schools.
Last Updated

Aug. 19, 2023

§ 51210.1’s source at ca​.gov