We are calling your attention to the following issues related to this legislation:
While we believe the value of students developing a lifelong enjoyment of physical fitness is important, our hope would be that a broader range of options would assist students in finding ways of maintaining healthy lifestyles they could sustain. A lifelong commitment to exercise and other ways of meeting those human needs is based on individual choice of physical activities.

The VCFAE opposes legislation that requires a daily physical activity time requirement during the school day. The proposed legislation for physical activity (SB 256), which requires an additional 30 minutes of daily minutes of participation in physical activities, will likely create scheduling issues, a need for additional staff, and would create facilities and equipment issues resulting in significant financial implications for school divisions at a time when meeting current needs is challenging. The result is an unfunded mandate.

The additional minutes required in SB 256 will directly impact the ability to meet elementary art and music SOL’s and would create substantial scheduling difficulties for those classes.

Additional time requirements could impinge student’s ability to prepare for careers, through sequential courses, and their preparation for post-secondary study or career pathways, in all advanced elective studies.

Education Committee Contact information
Stephen Martin, Chair Dist. 11 -Chesterfield Chesterfield district11@senate.virginia.gov
Richard Saslaw Dist.35 - Springfield district35@senate.virginia.gov
L.Louise Lucas Dist. 18 - Portsmouth district18@senate.virginia.gov
Janet Howell Dist.32 - Reston district32@senate.virginia.gov
Stephen Newman Dist. 23 - Forest district23@senate.virginia.gov
Harry Blevins Dist.14 - Chesapeake district14@senate.virginia.gov
Mamie Locke Dist. 02 - Hampton district02@senate.virginia.gov
George Barker Dist. 39 - Alexandria district39@senate.virginia.gov
Ralph Northam Dist.06 -Norfolk district06@senate.virginia.gov
John Miller Dist.01 - Newport News district01@senate.virginia.gov
Ralph Smith Dist. 19 - Roanoke district19@senate.virginia.gov
Jeffrey McWaters District08 -Virginia Beach district08@senate.virginia.gov
Richard Black Dist.13 - Leesburg district13@senate.virginia.gov
Charles Carrico Dist.40 - Galax district40@senate.virginia.gov
Thomas Garrett Dist.22 - Farmville - district22@senate.virginia.gov

VIRGINIA COALITION FOR FINE ARTS EDUCATION

January 20, 2012
LEGISLATIVE ALERT!!!!!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

The VCFAE is requesting immediate response to legislation to appear before the Senate Public Education Sub-committee, Monday, January 23, 2012. The Public Education Sub-committee meets 30 minutes after the close of the Monday session of the General Assembly.
The bill in question is S.B. 256, addressing DAILY physical ACTIVITY in schools, K-12. Please read the excerpt from the full text version of the bill below.
Talking points are provided following the bill. Please contact your senator, particularly members of the Senate Public Education Sub-committee and members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Members of these committees are posted on the VCFAE website:
http://www.vaea.org/coalition.html

Senate Bill S.B. 256. New information is in italics. Eliminated information is struck through.
SENATE BILL NO. 256
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 10, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to physical activity in schools.
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Patron-- Miller, J.C.
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22.1-253.13:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
14. A program of daily physical activity available to all students in grades kindergarten through 12 consisting of at least 30 minutes per dayduring the regular school year. Such program may include any combination of (i) physical education classes, (ii) extracurricular athletics, or (iii) other programs and physical activities deemed appropriate by the local school board.
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