Gatesville ISD Policies Related to Fitness
TOBACCO
The Board shall prohibit smoking or using tobacco products at a school-related or schoolsanctioned
activity on or off school property. Students are prohibited from possessing tobacco
products at a school-related or school-sanctioned activity on or off school property. School
personnel shall enforce these policies on school property. Education Code 38.006 (1/23/2008)
Daily Physical Activity
K-6
The District shall require students in kindergarten through grade 5 to participate in moderate or
vigorous daily physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school year, as part of the
District’s physical education program or through structured activity during a campus’s daily
recess.
If the District determines, for any particular grade level, that requiring moderate or vigorous daily
physical activity is impractical due to scheduling concerns or other factors, the District may as
an alternative require a student in that grade level to participate in moderate or vigorous
physical activity for at least 135 minutes during each school week.
The District must provide an exemption for a student who is unable to participate in the required
physical activity because of illness or disability.
Education Code 28.002(l)
6-8
The District shall require students in grades 6–8 to participate in moderate or vigorous daily
physical activity for at least 30 minutes for at least four semesters during those grade levels as
part of the District's physical education curriculum.
The District may as an alternative require a student enrolled in a grade level for which the
District uses block scheduling to participate in moderate or vigorous physical activity for at least
225 minutes during each period of two school weeks.
Coordinated School Health Program
TEA shall make available to the District one or more coordinated health programs or allow the
development of District programs designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type
2 diabetes in elementary, middle, and junior high school students. Each program must provide
for coordinating:
1. Health education;
2. Physical education and physical activity;
3. Nutrition services; and
4. Parental involvement.
Education Code 38.013; 19 TAC 102.1031(a)
The District shall participate in appropriate training to implement TEA’s coordinated health
program and shall implement the program in each elementary, middle, and junior high school in
the District. Education Code 38.014
Coordinated school health programs that are developed by the District and that meet TEA
criteria may be approved and made available as approved programs. The District must use
materials that are proven effective, such as TEA-approved textbooks or materials developed by
nationally recognized and/or government-approved entities. 19 TAC 102.1031(c) (11/26/2008)
The Board shall establish a local school health advisory council to assist the District in ensuring
that local community values are reflected in the District’s health education instruction.
Education Code 28.004(a) [See BDF regarding composition of council and FFA regarding
federal wellness requirements]
The council’s duties include recommending:
1. The number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education;
2. Curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent obesity,
cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes through coordination of health education,
physical education and physical activity, nutrition services, parental involvement, and
instruction to prevent the use of tobacco;
3. Appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality instruction; and
4. Strategies for integrating the curriculum components specified by item 2, above, with the
following elements in a coordinated school health program:
a. School health services;
b. Counseling and guidance services;
SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Board shall establish a local school health advisory council to assist the District in ensuring
that local community values are reflected in the District’s health education instruction.
Education Code 28.004(a) [See BDF regarding composition of council and FFA regarding
federal wellness requirements]
The council’s duties include recommending:
1. The number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education;
2. Curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent obesity,
cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes through coordination of health education,
physical education and physical activity, nutrition services, parental involvement, and
instruction to prevent the use of tobacco;
3. Appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality instruction; and
4. Strategies for integrating the curriculum components specified by item 2, above, with the
following elements in a coordinated school health program:
a. School health services;
b. Counseling and guidance services;
c. A safe and healthy school environment; and
d. School employee wellness.
Education Code 28.004(c)
Physical Fitness Assessment
Annually, the District shall assess the physical fitness of students in grades 3 through 12, using
an assessment instrument adopted by the Commissioner.
The District is not required to assess a student for whom, as a result of disability or other
condition identified by Commissioner rule, the assessment instrument is inappropriate.
Each student must be assessed based on factors related to student health, including aerobic
capacity; body composition; and muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility, unless a
particular factor is inappropriate for that student because of a health classification defined in 19
TAC 74.31 [See EHAA, CLASSIFICATION FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION]. (11/26/2008)
Gatesville ISD used the FITNESSGRAM®, created by The Cooper Institute of Dallas, to test
students in grades 3-12 during spring 2008. The assessment measures body composition,
aerobic capacity, strength, endurance and flexibility. Students are considered to be in the
“Healthy Fitness Zone” if they achieved certain levels on six tests, with performance targets tied
to a student’s age and gender. The tests include activities such as a one-mile run, curl ups,
push-ups, trunk lift, shoulder stretches.
Parents may submit a written request to the principal to receive individual reports on their
children.
Nutrition
The District shall ensure that nutrition guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall be at least
as restrictive as federal regulations and guidance and that all foods available on each campus
are in accordance with the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy.
From FFA(LOCAL) 5/22/06
Effective August 1, 2004, all districts participating in the federal Child Nutrition Programs must
comply with the nutrition policies outlined by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
From CO(LEGAL) 6/7/06
Vending
Gatesville ISD follows the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Public School Nutrition
Policy - Competitive Foods (All food and beverages that are not provided by school food
service, including vending.) Vending machines in cafeterias contain only water and 100 percent
fruit juice.
Gatesville Primary, Elementary, Intermediate and Junior : Vending machines are not available
to students any time anywhere on school premises
Gatesville High School: Vending machines are not allowed during meal periods in areas where
reimbursable meals are served and consumed.