ILLINOIS STUDENT HEALTH FITNESS ACT

ILLINOIS STUDENT HEALTH FITNESS ACT FACT SHEET

House Bill 2291 Rep. Miller, Rep. Coulson

Supporting Organizations
House Roll Call

IAHPERD and its coalition partners are supporting the Illinois Student Health Fitness Act, a bill that will require the annual health-related fitness assessment of students in grades five, seven and nine.   It will also require reporting of this fitness data on the Illinois School Report Card.  This data will give parents, administrators and taxpayers a better picture of the fitness levels of the children enrolled in their local schools.   The Illinois Student Health Fitness Act will also help in setting healthy goals for children and teens that can help address the out-of-control obesity crisis in this state.
With the passage of this bill, Illinois will join several other states in tracking the fitness levels of their students, including California, New York, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

WHY DO WE NEED THIS BILL?

1. A staggering 41% of Illinois children, ages 5-19, are overweight or obese (compared to 31.9% nationwide).
2. Attaining and maintaining a healthy level of fitness for kids is a State Learning Goal.  
3. There is presently no way to ascertain the overall fitness level of Illinois students because there is no standardized instrument or state reporting of fitness data. 
   
   

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS BILL?

• Parents and residents of school districts would be better informed.
• Researchers in the medical and health fields need this data.
• Students would be developing skills for healthy, lifelong physical fitness.
• State, county and local public health agencies can better allocate funds to improve child health.
• Schools have more information when planning intervention programs to improve student health.
• Schools can also explore the connection between fitness levels and academic achievement.
  

WHAT DOES THE FITNESS ASSESSMENT LOOK LIKE?
There are four parts:  a cardio-respiratory endurance test, curl-ups, push-ups, and sit and reach.  Scores will be reported as group scores and will be compared to scores deemed to be in a range called Healthy Fitness Zone.

WHAT WOULD THIS COST ILLINOIS SCHOOLS?
The monetary cost is insignificant.  Teacher training and test instructions will be available on-line for free. A test manual may be purchased for about twenty-five dollars. No special software is required. 

IAHPERD and its coalition partners recognize that improving the healthy fitness levels of Illinois children will take time and will require coordinated efforts involving educators, medical and health professionals, community and State leaders.  We believe that we can make a real impact in improving child health fitness and an eventual impact on overall child health.  The Illinois Student Health Fitness Act will be a significant step in this process. 

PLEASE SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 2291

Contact:  Paula Purdue   217-299-1981     paula@youradvocates.net

The following organizations support the ILLINOIS STUDENT HEALTH FITNESS ACT:

Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate
American Stroke Association
Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Illinois Association of School Nurses
Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
Active Transportation Alliance
Healthy Schools Campaign
Illinois Athletic Trainers Association

ILLINOIS HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
2009-2010
                                                                                                                                   
Chair:  Michael K. Smith (D)            245E Stratton Bldg.    217-782-8152  YES
Vice-Chair:  Fred Crespo (D)            250W Stratton Bldg.              -0347   NO
Minority Chair:  Jerry Mitchell (R)   630 Capitol Bldg.                   -0535   YES
Minority Vice-Chair:  Suzanne Bassi (R)  211N Stratton Bldg.      -8026   NO
Members:       Marlow H. Colvin (D)  272S Stratton Bldg.              -8272   YES
Monique D. Davis (D)  241E Stratton Bldg.              -0010   YES
Lisa M. Dugan (D)       242W Stratton Bldg.             -5981   YES
Robert F. Flider (D)     253S Stratton Bldg.               -8398   YES
Paul D. Froehlich (D)   279S Stratton Bldg.              -3725   YES
Esther Golar (D)           244S Stratton Bldg.              -5971   YES
David E. Miller (D)       300 Capitol Bldg.                 -8087   YES
Harry Osterman (D)      273S Stratton Bldg.              -8088   YES
Karen A. Yarbrough (D)272S Stratton Bldg.                        -8120   YES
John Cavaletto (R)        228N Stratton Bldg.             -0066   (abs)
Roger Eddy (R)            234N Stratton Bldg. 217-558-1040   YES
Sandra Pihos (R)           225N Stratton Bldg. 217-782-8037   NO
Bob Pritchard (R)         200-3N Stratton Bldg.          -0425   (abs)
David Reis (R)              228N Stratton Bldg.             -2087   (abs)
Darlene Senger (R)       214N Stratton Bldg.             -6507   YES
Jim Watson (R)             200-4N Stratton Bldg.          -1840   YES