Sec. 10-203a. Guidelines re physical health needs of students. Optional adoption of plans by local and regional boards of education. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 10-203a. Guidelines re physical health needs of students. Optional adoption of plans by local and regional boards of education. (a) Not later than January 1, 2007, the Department of Education shall (1) develop guidelines for addressing the physical health needs of students in a comprehensive manner that coordinates services, including services provided by municipal parks and recreation departments, and (2) make available to each local and regional board of education a copy of the guidelines. The department shall develop the guidelines after consultation with (A) the chairpersons and ranking members of (i) the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, and (ii) the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, (B) at least one state-wide nonprofit organization with expertise in child wellness or physical exercise, and (C) the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association. The guidelines shall not be deemed to be regulations, as defined in section 4-166. Local and regional boards of education may establish and implement plans based on the guidelines in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

      (b) The guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) Plans for engaging students in daily physical exercise during regular school hours and strategies for engaging students in daily physical exercise before and after regular school hours in coordination with municipal parks and recreation departments, (2) strategies for coordinating school-based health education, programs and services, (3) procedures for assessing the need for community-based services such as services provided by school-based health clinics, municipal parks and recreation departments, family resource centers and after-school programs, and (4) procedures for maximizing monetary and other resources from local, state and federal sources to address the physical health needs of students.

      (c) Not later than April 1, 2007, each local and regional board of education may (1) establish a comprehensive and coordinated plan to address the physical health needs of students, and (2) base its plan on the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The board may implement such plan for the 2007-2008 school year and may have a plan in place for each school year thereafter.

      (P.A. 06-44, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 06-44 effective May 8, 2006.