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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-409" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Health and Safety of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Each public school shall have a program of physical education that is given in a planned and sequential manner to all students, kindergarten through grade 12, to develop their good health and physical fitness and improve their motor coordination and physical skills.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Employ a full–time director of physical education;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, adopt regulations that require a public school building that is newly constructed or completely renovated and occupied on or after January 1, 2013, to include a gymnasium and adequate support space for physical education instruction; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Adopt guidelines for facilities for physical education programs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The regulations adopted under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall include a process by which a local school system that is conducting a complete renovation of a public school building may request a waiver, based on land or zoning constraints, from the requirement to include a gymnasium.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Each local school system may develop and implement an annual Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan to be used to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Establish baseline student data for the health–related components of physical fitness;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Assist students with the development of personal physical fitness plans;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Encourage appropriate interventions for students identified as having unhealthy levels of physical fitness;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Identify effective practices for improvement of student health–related physical fitness; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Encourage partnerships with health agencies to address student health–related issues in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Develop a procedure to monitor and measure the implementation of a local school system’s Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Provide feedback and technical assistance to each local school system that implements a Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Identify and distribute to each local school system effective wellness policy practices for physical activity and physical education; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Provide staff support to each local school system that implements a Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Each local school system that implements a Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan under subsection (c) of this section shall submit to the Department:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The local school system’s Wellness Policy Implementation and Monitoring Plan, that shall include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Policy goals;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Activities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Expected outcomes; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Measurements for physical activity and physical education; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An annual report on the local school system’s progress toward achieving the policy goals of the implementation plan.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on Health and Physical Education.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members, selected by each organization from which the member is a representative:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A representative from the Department;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A representative from the Maryland Parent–Teacher Association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A representative from the Maryland State Teachers Association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A representative from the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Representatives from each local school system;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>A representative from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>A representative from the Maryland Association of Counties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>A representative from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>A representative of the Professional Organization for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>A representative from an institution of higher education having a health and physical education teacher education program;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <text>A representative from Special Olympics of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xii">
        <text>A representative from the Maryland Department of Health;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiii">
        <text>A representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiv">
        <text>Representatives from the following health organizations:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The American Heart Association;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The American Cancer Society; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The American Diabetes Association.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>From among its members, the Council shall elect a chair, vice chair, and any other officers necessary to carry out the Advisory Council’s functions.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department shall provide staff and other necessary support to the Advisory Council using existing resources.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A member of the Advisory Council may not receive compensation for serving on the Advisory Council, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>The Advisory Council shall meet at least twice each year and may hold additional meetings at the discretion of the chair or at the request of a majority of the members.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>The Advisory Council shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Develop and coordinate programs in collaboration with public schools to educate students regarding the importance of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Physical activity and physical movement;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The relationship of physical activity to a healthy lifestyle and improved fitness;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The relationship between healthy eating, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>The value of physical activity and its relationship to improved academic achievement and stress reduction;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Identify promising health and physical education practices in the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Build a network of health and physical education professionals to share information and strengthen partnerships;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Support successful health and physical education programs in the State and encourage the expansion of those programs; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Consult with organizations represented on the Advisory Council as appropriate.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>The Advisory Council may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Seek, accept, and expend funds from any source, including donations, State appropriations, and federal grants; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Seek, accept, and use services from individuals, corporations, and government entities.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
