Q. My first-grader receives only a 15-minute lunch recess and a physical education class one time per week. I thought there was a law passed that requires elementary schools students receive an average of 30 minutes of physical activity each day? I’ve learned that some students even miss recess when the weather is cooler, as a form of punishment. How can I make sure that his school is following the law?
A. House Bill 11-1069 was passed in 2011 and requires elementary schools to offer 600 minutes per month, or 150 minutes
of physical activity per week in school.
This can include physical education, exercise breaks in the classroom and recess, field trips and more. To date, some schools lag behind in implementation of this law and they will need some support and creative programming to support implementation of House Bill 11-1069.
4 things you can do to promote more exercise at school
- Familiarize yourself with the law. Information about HB-1069 can be found in this handout, developed by LiveWell Colorado.
- Share this information with your principal, school accountability committee and parent-teacher organization.
- Ask your principal how you might be able to support the implementation of HB1069 in your school. Ways to increase physical activity might involve: additional recess time; “brain breaks” in the classroom; before-school running programs; modifying weather policies; finding ways to keep kids active indoors on cold weather days (check out this EdNews Parent post); and fostering programs that encourage walking and biking to school.
- Lastly, remember to be patient with your school and offer to support the solutions. Your positive support and leadership will be appreciated, especially if you are willing to lead a pilot program that supports implementation.
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