rules@tea.state.tx.us
or faxed to (512) 463-0028.
All requests for a public hearing on the proposed new section submitted under
the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education
not more than 15 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published
in the
Texas Register
.
The new section is proposed under the Texas Education Code, §38.013,
as amended by SB 1357, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, which authorizes the
commissioner to by rule adopt criteria for evaluating a coordinated health
program
The new section implements the Texas Education Code, §38.013 and §38.014.
§102.1031.Criteria for Evaluating Coordinated Health Programs for Elementary School Students.
(a)
Program purpose. In accordance with Texas Education Code
(TEC), §38.013, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall make available
to each school district one or more coordinated school health programs designed
to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes in elementary
school students. Each program must provide for coordinating:
(1)
health education;
(2)
physical education and physical activity;
(3)
nutrition services; and
(4)
parental involvement.
(b)
Evaluation criteria. The commissioner of education may
make available under subsection (a) of this section only those coordinated
school health programs that meet the following criteria.
(1)
The program coordinates physical education/physical activity,
classroom health education, nutrition/cafeteria services, and parental involvement.
(2)
The program is implemented and coordinated within and across
Kindergarten-Grade 5. A program may be submitted that also includes Prekindergarten
and/or Grade 6.
(3)
The program has a training component that includes physical
education/physical activity, classroom health education, nutrition/cafeteria
services, and parental involvement activities and coordinates the four components
of subsection (a). The training component must include teaching staff and
parents.
(4)
The program curricular components (health education and
physical education) are based on Chapter 115 of this title (relating to Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Education) and Chapter 116 of this
title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Physical Education).
(5)
The program is supported by peer reviewed empirical evidence
of effectiveness.
(6)
The program includes assessment tools for schools to measure
cognitive, behavioral, and attitudinal changes related to the four components.
(7)
The program is based on health education theory and national
standards for instructional and/or industry best practices in each of the
four components described in subsection (a).
(8)
The program allows for tailoring to schools' individual
needs and can be adapted to a variety of specific situations: ethnic diversity,
children with disabilities, school schedules, socioeconomic status, geographic
locations, and gender differences.
(9)
The program trains school district staff in the annual
use of assessment and planning tools for school health programs and policies,
such as the elementary school version of the School Health Index available
at the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
(c)
Health programs developed by school districts. Coordinated
school health programs that are developed by school districts and that meet
the criteria in subsection (b) of this section may be approved and made available
as approved programs.
(d)
Submission of programs for evaluation. Coordinated school
health programs may be submitted annually for evaluation on a schedule to
be determined by the commissioner. Programs will be approved for a period
of three years.
(e)
Availability of programs. The TEA shall notify each school
district of the availability of each coordinated school health program approved
by the commissioner.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on January 14, 2004.
TRD-200400241
Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez
Director, Policy Coordination
Texas Education Agency
Earliest possible date of adoption: February 29, 2004
For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497