Va. Legislature Considers Requiring School Phys Ed

The General Assembly is considering legislation that would require public schools to offer physical-education classes.

The Senate voted Tuesday 37-2 to pass the bill, which would change Virginia law to require local school boards to adopt daily physical-education programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The measure, sponsored by Norfolk Democrat Ralph Northam, would require schools to offer at least 150 minutes of weekly physical education.

Under the legislation, school boards would also set goals to enact similar plans for their high schools.

A House subcommittee voted Tuesday to refer a similar measure to the House Appropriations Committee.

If approved by the full legislature, the measure would take effect in the 2014-15 school year.