GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE BILL DRS35224-MT-123   (03/16)

Short Title:      Require Physical Education.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Rabin (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO REQUIRE PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑81 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑81.  Basic Education Program.

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(b)        The Basic Education Program shall include course requirements and descriptions similar in format to materials previously contained in the standard course of study and it shall provide:provide all of the following:

(1)        A core curriculum for all students that takes into account the special needs of children;children.

(2)        A set of competencies, by grade level, for each curriculum area;area.

(2a) A requirement that all students in kindergarten through fifth grade participate in at least three, supervised, one‑hour physical education classes each school week that will enhance their physical fitness and promote the idea that exercise is good for developing the mind and body. Students from different grade levels may participate simultaneously if, in the opinion of the school principal, simultaneous participation is necessary at a particular school and the classes are appropriate to the ages of the participating students.

(3)        A list of textbooks for use in providing the curriculum;curriculum.

(4)        Standards for student performance and promotion based on the mastery of competencies, including standards for graduation, that take into account children with disabilities and, in particular, include appropriate modifications;modifications.

(5)        A program of remedial education;education.

(6)        Required support programs;programs.

(7)        A definition of the instructional day;day.

(8)        Class size recommendations and requirements;requirements.

(9)        Prescribed staffing allotment ratios;ratios.

(10)      Material and equipment allotment ratios;ratios.

(11)      Facilities guidelines that reflect educational program appropriateness, long‑term cost efficiency, and safety considerations; andconsiderations.

(12)      Any other information the Board considers appropriate and necessary.

The State Board shall not adopt or enforce any rule that requires Algebra I as a graduation standard or as a requirement for a high school diploma for any student whose individualized education program (i) identifies the student as learning disabled in the area of mathematics and (ii) states that this learning disability will prevent the student from mastering Algebra I.

The State Board shall not require any student to prepare a high school graduation project as a condition of graduation from high school; local boards of education may, however, require their students to complete a high school graduation project.

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(e3) Physical Education. – The State Board of Education shall require the teaching of one one‑credit course on physical education each year in sixth through twelfth grades."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(64) To Ensure That All Students Participate in Physical Education. – It is the duty of each local board of education to ensure that all students participate in physical education classes pursuant to G.S. 115C‑81."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.