TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Senate Bill 19 and Coordinated Health Program

In May 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature passed into law Senate Bill 19 (SB 19). SB 19 addresses children's health through possible daily physical activity in public schools and a coordinated school health approach to preventing obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes in elementary school students. The legislation was in response to the escalating problem of obesity, cardiovascular heart disease. This letter pertains only to the coordinated health component of SB 19. It does not address the separate issue of a possible State Board of Education rule requiring daily physical activity for elementary school students.

SB 19 requires the Texas Education Agency to make available to each school district a coordinated health program and to notify each district of the availability of the program. Each school district is required to implement a program approved by the agency in each elementary school in the district no later than September 1, 2007. The purpose of this letter is to explain the TEA plan for the implementation of coordinated health programs in Texas elementary schools.

Beginning this spring, any organization/program that chooses to be considered for selection by the agency will be invited to send a complete program description of their program to TEA. The agency will then develop a list of qualified programs that will be distributed to school districts.

To further assist districts in choosing an effective program, information on those programs will also be distributed to districts. For example, districts will know the cost of each program on the list they receive. After receiving the list of qualified programs from TEA and the program comparison, districts will choose a program that best fits the schools' needs. After selecting a program, the district will coordinate training through the regional service center or by contacting the program provider directly.

Attached is a more detailed outline of the TEA plan for the selection of programs by districts. Additional details or questions can be directed to Dr. Tommy Fleming, Director of Health and Physical Education, at (512) 463-9581.

Sincerely,

Arturo Almendarez
Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Instruction

Attachments: Senate Bill 19 and Coordinated Health Programs: A State Plan for Reviewing Programs