What's happening
This bill requires all New York school districts to have a certified physical education teacher in every school.
Why it matters
Ensures specialized instruction. By mandating a certified physical education teacher in every school, the bill guarantees that students receive instruction from professionals specifically trained in physical education, rather than from generalist teachers.
Addresses disparities across districts. Previously, smaller or less-resourced districts could assign physical education duties to non-specialist teachers; this bill removes that option, aiming to provide equitable physical education opportunities statewide.
Potentially impacts hiring and budgets. School districts may need to hire additional certified staff, which could have financial and logistical implications for schools, especially those that previously relied on existing staff to cover physical education.
Raises quality and accountability. The change may lead to more consistent and higher-quality physical education programs, supporting student health and wellness as a statewide educational priority.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Licensed Gym Teachers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require PE Teachers in Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Victor M. Pichardo
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
472
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring all school districts to have a certified physical education teacher
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 803 of the education law, as amended by chapter 118 of the laws of 1957, is amended to read as follows:
2. The board of education or trustees of every school district regularly employing twenty or more teachers shall employ, within every school, a teacher or teachers qualified and duly licensed under the regulations of the regents to give [such] physical education instruction[; in every other district of the state, they shall require such instruction to be given by the teacher or teachers regularly employed to give instruction in other subjects or by a teacher or teachers qualified and duly licensed under the regulations of the regents].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05457-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring all school districts to have a certified physical education teacher
Purpose
To require that all school districts regularly employing twenty or more teachers shall employ, within every school, a certified physical educa- tion teacher.
Summary of provisions
Subdivision 2 of section 803 of the education law is amended:
-adds "within every school" so that every school in all school districts within the board of education's jurisdiction shall employ qualified and duly licensed teachers under the regulations of the board to give phys- ical education instruction.
-adds "physical education" to specify the course being taught.
Justification
Only certified physical education teachers should be given the responsi- bility of teaching the skills and providing the motivation our young people need to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle. New York State allows classroom teachers, without any required training in physical education, to teach some physical education courses. Studies have found that, compared with classroom teachers, physical education specialists teach longer and higher quality classes in which students spend more time being physically active. Qualified and appropriately trained physical education teachers are the most essential ingredient of a quality physical education program.
Legislative history
2012: S7296 2013-2014: S944 2015-2016: S1128
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.