Comprehensive Physical Education Instruction Pilot

The bill creates the health and wellness through comprehensive quality physical education instruction pilot program (pilot program) in the department of education (department).

The purpose of the pilot program is to allow a school or a school district, as defined in the bill, serving any of grades K-8, to apply for grant money to implement a pilot program in a school or in schools of a school district. The pilot program must be implemented in all K-8 grades in the school or school district.

Subject to available appropriations, pilot program grants are for 3 academic years and are awarded to up to 15 eligible schools or school districts for a total of not more than $3 million awarded annually, including department administrative expenses. Pilot program grants are awarded in February prior to the first academic year to allow grantees to create a 3-year plan for the use of the grant money.

The bill includes application deadlines and criteria for the award of grants. The department will review grant applications and make recommendations to the state board of education for the award of the pilot program grants.

Grant money awarded through the pilot program can be used only to implement comprehensive quality physical education instruction, as described in the bill. The bill lists the components that must be included in a comprehensive quality physical education instruction program.

The department shall contract with a program evaluator for purposes of completing a program evaluation of the pilot program at the end of the 3-year grant period. The bill lists program evaluation criteria. First priority shall be given to a vendor proposal from a state-supported institution of higher education that has the expertise necessary to assess the impact of the pilot program.

The bill requires annual reporting to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives.

For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the bill requires the general assembly to appropriate $1.1 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department to implement the pilot program. Unspent appropriations are further appropriated for the remainder of the pilot program to implement the pilot program.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)