Representative Ron Sandack Files Bill to Allow for Local Control of Physical Education Curricula

State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) filed a bill today that would remove the five-day-per-week mandate for physical education classes for students in Illinois.

Illinois is the only state that currently requires all K-12 students to participate in daily physical education classes at school. Sandack’s bill, HB1330, would eliminate the mandate and allow local leaders to decide how much PE should be required in their schools.

“It has long been my opinion that decisions regarding education are best left to the local level,” said Sandack. “HB1330 allows parents and school boards to control the curriculum as it relates to physical education for their students.”

The bill seeks to amend the School Code and put decisions regarding PE participation firmly into the hands of local school districts. “This bill does not seek to eliminate physical education in our schools,” said Sandack. “It simply puts the decision-making power for PE curriculum matters into the hands of local boards of education.”

Sandack pointed to childhood obesity statistics as proof that daily PE is not producing healthier students. “I think a lot of people would have expected the childhood obesity rate to drop once daily PE was mandated in our schools,” said Sandack. “We just haven’t seen it. The childhood obesity rate is still unacceptably high, and there has been no proof that daily PE has changed the trend in Illinois.”

While he supports the elimination of the PE mandate, Sandack maintains that daily physical activity is very important for all people. “No one is debating the value of daily physical activity,” Sandack said. “But I firmly believe that parents and local boards of educations are quite capable of making decisions that are in the best interests of students.”

HB1330 has been assigned to the House Elementary & Secondary Education: Curriculum & Policies Committee.