Posted: July 7th, 2008

Board Member Marlene Canter is introducing a motion to enforce physical education laws before the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education at a public hearing on July 8, 2008, at 3:30 pm at LAUSD headquarters on BEAUDRY and Third in downtown L.A. Quality physical education will help students move more, eat well, stay healthy, and do their best in school and in life.

The motion addresses enforcing required minutes of physical education in public schools; providing qualified physical education teachers; limiting physical education class sizes; and achieving equal justice through quality physical education for all. Physically fit students do better academically, tend to stay in school longer, and tend to avoid gangs and other criminal activity. Public education must develop the minds and bodies of our children.

LAUSD for years has not enforced state laws requiring an average of 20 minutes per day of physical education for students in elementary schools. Many physical education classes are not taught by qualified teachers. Many physical education classes are severely overcrowded. LAUSD does not provide adequate places and facilities for physical education and physical activity through, for example, the optimal and joint use of schools, pools, and parks. These problems contribute to the risk of childhood obesity and diabetes for all students, particularly for low income students and students of color.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, obesity among LAUSD students has increased from 20.2% in 1999 to 26.1% in 2006, going from 1 in 5 children being obese to over 1 in 4. The percentage of overweight school children traditionally has increased at a faster rate at LAUSD than at other school districts in Los Angeles County. The percentage of obese school children continues to be persistently higher at LAUSD compared to other schools in the County.

90% of LAUSD children are children of color, and 74% are low income (qualify for free or reduced meals).

The motion is the result of many people working together to serve the needs of the students. Board Member Canter has consistently been a champion for physical fitness and healthy eating in public schools. The United Teachers of Los Angeles Physical Education Campaign calls for enforcing physical education minutes requirements, providing qualified physical education teachers, limiting physical education class sizes, and joint use of schools, pools, and parks. Diverse complainants filed a Williams complaint to remedy physical education vacancies and misassignments and the pattern and practice of depriving students of quality physical education. LAUSD Physical Education Advisor Chad Fenwick has provided leadership and expertise for all. The California Endowment has published policy reports including Physical Education Matters and Failing Fitness. The City Project has worked with each of these stakeholders.

Write, phone, or email board members to support Board Member Canter’s physical education motion, or testify live Tuesday July 8 at 3:30 at LAUSD headquarters at BEAUDRY and Third in downtown Los Angeles.

Here is a sample letter:

July 7, 2008

Dear Board Member Canter:

I support your motion to make physical education a priority and to enforce physical education laws in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Students need active minutes of physical education every day, qualified PE teachers, smaller PE class sizes, and facilities for physical activity.

Quality physical education will help students move more, eat well, stay healthy, and do their best in school and in life.

Please enforce the physical education laws for all.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Contact LAUSD Board Members

Yolie Flores Aguilar
213-241-6383
yolie.flores.aguilar@lausd.net

Marlene Canter
213-241-6387
marlene.canter@lausd.net

Tamar Galatzan
213-241-6386
tamar.galatzan@utla.net

Monica Garcia
213-241-6180
monica.garcia@lausd.net

Marguerite LaMotte
213-241-6382
marguerite.lamotte@lausd.net

Julie Korenstein
213-241-6388
julie.korenstein@lausd.net

Richard Vladovic
213-241-6385
richard.vladovic@lausd.net

Superintendent David Brewer III
213-241-7000
Fax: 213-241-8442
superintendent@lausd.net

Board of Education
Phone 213-241-6389

Fax: 213-241-8953 or 213-481-9023