California schools Supt.
Tom Torlakson seeks to improve the results by having celebrity athletes promote
fitness. Recent budget problems have cut into funding for sports programs.
Less than a third of students in California who passed the natural state government test this year, the six regions are expected, the move showed the new results.
Member Superintendent. Public Education Tom Torlakson, long cross country coach physical fitness has made a signature issue, announced results this week a program to improve children's health. The campaign that kind of celebrity athletes in the NBA All-Star Bill Walton and other schools visit calls for students to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables and increase their use.
"If we only 31% of children are physically fit, there is a challenge to the public health, we can not wait to intervene" Torlakson said in a statement.
Results 1340000 students in fifth, seventh and ninth grade last year reduction tested in all three categories. Scores are steadily improving since 2006, injured or a result of what the government officials, the "healthy fitness zone" of the ninth class male, 5 feet call 6 and £ 150, running a mile 9 minutes, perform at least 16 push-ups and do at least 24 curl ups. Fat also measured with flexibility.
About 25% of the fifth graders all six parts; 32% of seventh graders and 36.8% of ninth graders.
Linda Hooper, the State Department counselor education, said the results were baptized this year largely because two steps - the measurement of aerobic capacity and body fat - is used in more accurate measurements. But he said another factor was cutting the budget, the back with regard to physical education and sports programs throughout the state.
Hooper said he was particularly concerned about the "pretty significant dip" Exercise for elementary students, which partly was due to the reduction of physical education teachers on campus.
"When a budget crisis, PE and Sport is less important," he said.
Los Angeles Unified students were slightly worse than the national average. Chad Fenwick, an area of physical education consultants, the largest school system in California said it was a long time after the state, and because many of the students with low income, socio-economic factor associated with a lower fitness. Nevertheless, the results continually improved over the past seven years - 49.2% of ninth graders five year 06:00, the purpose statement, compared with 26% in 2004, he said.
This year, the result is mainly due to the cycle change, he said.
Other initiatives to improve the health of children, Fenwick says the site has a state aid received during the past four years to an accredited teachers to send physical education for about 60 elementary schools to work with students and teachers to lead classroom . Although the situation now regions this money used for other purposes, LA Unified has received educational program, he said.
This year the country also renew the cafe menu elements, such as chocolate milk and french fries to replace healthier foods.
But Fenwick said the budget cuts in the last two years high school sports programs violate increase the size of the order of 80 "class sizes are quite impressive, and it is another thing that we worry about," he said .
The common interests of the state. A study published last month in California State PTA found that 75% of the 1600 members of the respondents said that they program of Physical Education and Sports School is eliminated or reduced. Restoration of at the beginning in terms of health programs.
Torlakson new campaign, the team California Healthy Kids are encouraged to apply for scholarships for schools salad bar to integrate partnerships with farmers' markets to physical education and other activities create.
2011 Physical Fitness Test results are available on the California Department of Education website Physical fitness test are available. Information Team initiative California Healthy Kids for Healthy Kids California groups - initiatives and programs.
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