2010 Minnesota Smart and Healthy Kids Bill
House File 3115 and Senate File 2753
- To reinstate Physical Education standards in Minnesota schools based on national standards but allow school districts flexibility of implementation (this will allow Minnesota schools to tap into federal PEP Grants that for example gave 10 Wisconsin school districts over $350,000 each last year);
- Begin tracking the amount and quality of physical education that is offered in Minnesota schools currently so we can see how we compare to the nation;
- Create a Healthy Kids Awards program to reward schools that promote at least 60 minutes of quality physical activity for kids daily and improve nutrition in our schools; and
- Develop and promote best practices guidelines for quality recess such as structured recess and holding recess before lunch.
ACTION REQUESTED
Healthy Kids Ad from Star Tribune (right)
Write a note to your State Representative in the MN House of Representatives:
"Support the Smart & Healthy Kids Bill (HF3115/SF2753) because kids who are fit and active do better at school."
Mail your note to your Representative. Call (651) 296-2146 or (800) 657-3550 OR find your Representative's address online.
Defend Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) funding of $47million.
- Enacted in 2008, this new $47 million program will lower obesity rates and reduce tobacco use through a local public health grant program.
Promote community approaches to physical activity including safe walking routes.
- Includes Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, and other approaches to encourage greater physical activity in the community.
Monitor restaurant menu-labeling/ban trans fat initiatives
Monitor “Body Mass Index” measurement and reporting for children.
- It is important to have quality data on childhood obesity to promote effective solutions.
- The Minnesota Department of Health will be putting in place a process to make recommendations about how BMI should be measured and data collected to track trends.
