Why is an Act to Improve Physical Education Needed?

Massachusetts law requires physical education to be taught in the public schools. However in 1996, the Board of Education repealed regulations that had mandated minimum annual hours of instruction. Since 1996, local school officials have determined the amount of time for instruction in physical education. In reality, physical education is one of the first programs to suffer when budgets are reduced.

Quality physical education programs:

• IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH
  Regular physical activity is important for enhancing physiological well-being, preventing pre-mature death, and maintaining a healthy body.
• ADDRESS THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC
  Childhood obesity is an epidemic. Since the 1970s, the number of overweight children from ages 6-19 has increased nearly 300 percent. Studies show that up to 80% of overweight adolescents become overweight adults. Overweight and obese children experience the same risk factors associated with heart disease in adults such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset diabetes.
• INCREASE OVERALL WELL-BEING
  Quality physical education has been shown to improve the overall welfare of students including physical, emotional, and cognitive performance.

The 2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey illustrated that:

• During an average week 1/3 of students did not participate in a physical education class, and all measures of physical activity decreased with each grade level.
• Youth that attended physical education class at least once a week were significantly more likely than their peers to have participated in regular vigorous physical activity, regular moderate physical activity, or muscle strengthening exercise