C.R.S. Section 22-32-136.5
Children’s wellness

  • physical activity requirement
  • legislative declaration

(1)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly hereby finds that:

(I)

Healthy children are more likely to be engaged learners, they do better in school, they have improved attendance, and they are less likely to have behavioral problems inside and outside of the classroom;

(II)

Many studies have documented the link between the mind and body and the effect of movement on cognition and stimulated blood flow and oxygen to a child’s brain;

(III)

Studies also show that physical activity improves students’ ability to focus and decreases the symptoms of attention deficit disorder and related conditions;

(IV)

Children who engage in physical activity as part of the learning environment are healthier and process information better;

(V)

The growing trend of childhood obesity is also beginning to affect the country’s military preparedness. Recent reports show that, nationally, approximately one-third of all potential military recruits are ineligible to join because they are overweight and out of shape;

(VI)

School is the only place that many children are exposed to physical activity;

(VII)

According to the 2009 child health survey conducted by the department of public health and environment, one in four Colorado children are overweight or obese, and only fifty-three and five tenths percent of children meet daily physical activity recommendations; and

(VIII)

Between 2003 and 2007, Colorado’s child obesity national ranking dropped from third leanest in the country to twenty-third, and the number of obese children in Colorado ten to seventeen years of age increased from forty-eight thousand to seventy-two thousand.

(b)

Therefore, the general assembly declares that, by supporting physical activity in public schools, Colorado will ensure that all children have access to activities that build their bodies and their brains and support their abilities to think, react, create, and learn.

(2)

For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “physical activity” may include, but need not be limited to:

(a)

Exercise programs;

(b)

Fitness breaks;

(c)

Recess;

(d)

Field trips that include physical activity;

(e)

Classroom activities that include physical activity; and

(f)

Physical education classes.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Each school district board of education shall adopt a physical activity policy that incorporates into the schedule of each student attending an elementary school the opportunity for the student to engage in:

(I)

A minimum of six hundred minutes of physical activity per month if the classes at the school meet five days per week and the student attends school for a full day;

(II)

A minimum of three hundred minutes of physical activity per month if the classes at the school meet five days per week and the student attends school for a half day;

(III)

A minimum of thirty minutes of physical activity per day if the classes at the school meet fewer than five days per week and the student attends school for a full day; and

(IV)

A minimum of fifteen minutes of physical activity per day if the classes at the school meet fewer than five days per week and the student attends school for a half day.

(b)

The physical activity policy may include an exception for any month that includes a planned or unplanned full-day or half-day school closure.

(c)

Each school district board of education shall implement the physical activity policy beginning with the 2011-12 school year.

(d)

Each school district board of education may require the person or committee in each school designated to ensure that the school complies with the local wellness policy, as described in section 22-32-136, or the school district accountability committee and school accountability committees created pursuant to article 11 of this title to review and advise the school district or an individual school regarding the school district’s or the individual school’s physical activity policy and compliance with this section.

(e)

The expectation that a school district adopt a policy concerning physical activity pursuant to this section is not intended to dictate instruction in the classroom.

(f)

A school that, prior to January 1, 2011, provides more than the minimum minutes specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) shall not decrease the amount of physical activity as a result of the policy specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3); except that the school may decrease its required minutes of physical activity in response to budgetary constraints, so long as the school complies with the requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3).

(g)

A school shall not substitute noninstructional physical activity for standards-based physical education instruction.

Source: Section 22-32-136.5 — Children’s wellness - physical activity requirement - legislative declaration, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

22‑32‑101
Corporate status of school districts 22‑32‑102
Corporate status - when questioned 22‑32‑103
Board of education - general powers and duties 22‑32‑104
Organization of board of education - definition 22‑32‑105
Duties - president and vice-president 22‑32‑106
Duties - secretary 22‑32‑107
Duties - treasurer 22‑32‑108
Meetings of the board of education - legislative intent 22‑32‑108.5
Board of education - distribution of additional mill levy revenue - definitions - legislative declaration 22‑32‑109
Board of education - specific duties - definitions 22‑32‑109.1
Board of education - specific powers and duties - safe school plan - conduct and discipline code - safe school reporting requirements - school response framework - school resource officers - definitions 22‑32‑109.2
Board of education - specific duties - adoption of policy 22‑32‑109.3
Board of education - specific duties - student records 22‑32‑109.4
Colorado School Collective Bargaining Agreement Sunshine Act - board of education - specific duties 22‑32‑109.5
Board of education - specific duties - testing requirements - developmental education placement or assessment tests - intervention plans 22‑32‑109.6
Board of education - specific duties - class size reduction plans - alternative student achievement plans - definitions 22‑32‑109.7
Board of education - specific duties - employment of personnel - definitions 22‑32‑109.8
Applicants selected for nonlicensed positions - submittal of form and fingerprints - prohibition against employing persons - department database 22‑32‑109.9
Licensed personnel - submittal of fingerprints 22‑32‑110
Board of education - specific powers - definitions 22‑32‑110.6
Board of education - specific powers - “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001” 22‑32‑110.7
Board of education - specific powers - drug testing 22‑32‑111
Power of eminent domain 22‑32‑112
Oil and gas leases 22‑32‑113
Transportation of pupils - when 22‑32‑114
Transportation by parents of own children 22‑32‑115
Tuition for resident school-age children 22‑32‑116
Exclusion of nonresidents - exception 22‑32‑116.5
Extracurricular and interscholastic activities - definitions 22‑32‑117
Miscellaneous fees 22‑32‑118
Summer schools - continuation, evening, and community education programs 22‑32‑118.5
Intervention strategies - students at risk of dropping out - legislative declaration 22‑32‑118.6
Intervention strategies - improving mathematics outcomes - definitions 22‑32‑119
Kindergartens - definition 22‑32‑119.5
Full-day kindergarten - phase-in plan - report - legislative declaration 22‑32‑120
Food services - facilities - school food authorities - rules 22‑32‑121
Facsimile signature 22‑32‑122
Contract services, equipment, and supplies 22‑32‑123
Penalty 22‑32‑124
Building codes - zoning - planning - fees - rules - definitions 22‑32‑124.3
Energy-efficient design of school buildings and structures required - definitions 22‑32‑126
Principals - employment and authority 22‑32‑127
Leases or installment purchases for periods exceeding one year 22‑32‑128
Use of school vehicles by residents of district 22‑32‑131
Voter approval of repayment of loans for capital improvements made to a growth district 22‑32‑132
Diplomas - veterans 22‑32‑133
American sign language 22‑32‑133.5
Computer science courses - legislative declaration 22‑32‑134.5
Healthy beverages policy required 22‑32‑135
Financial literacy curriculum - definition 22‑32‑136
Children’s nutrition - healthful alternatives - information - facilities - local wellness policy - competitive foods 22‑32‑136.3
Children’s nutrition - no trans fats in school foods - definitions - rules 22‑32‑136.5
Children’s wellness - physical activity requirement - legislative declaration 22‑32‑137
Community service and service-learning 22‑32‑138
Out-of-home placement students - school stability, transfer, and enrollment procedures - absences - exemptions - provision of academic supports - report - definitions 22‑32‑138.5
Educational stability grant program - application - grants - fund created - rules - report - definition 22‑32‑139
Food allergies and anaphylaxis policy required 22‑32‑140
Standardized immunization policy required 22‑32‑141
Student awaiting trial as adult - educational services - definitions 22‑32‑142
Parent engagement - policy - communications - incentives 22‑32‑143
Local fiscal impact summaries 22‑32‑144
Restorative justice practices - legislative declaration 22‑32‑145
Native American language and culture instruction - general credit 22‑32‑146
School use of on-site peace officers as school resource officers 22‑32‑147
Use of restraints on students - certain restraints prohibited - reports and review process - rules - definitions 22‑32‑148
Food donations to nonprofit organizations encouraged 22‑32‑149
District scholarship programs - authorized 22‑32‑150
Contracting for facial recognition service by schools prohibited - definition - repeal 22‑32‑151
Testing for the presence of lead in drinking water in eligible schools - compliance with public health requirements - repeal
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 22-32-136.5’s source at colorado​.gov