If we are truly committed to fighting the obesity epidemic in our state, how can we even consider not providing the most optimal learning environment for the one class that exists to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a healthy, active life?  What epidemic was ever successfully fought by decreasing the aid needed to eradicate the disease?  

The Tom Cronan Act was passed UNANIMOUSLY and signed into law on May 21, 2018. The Tom Cronan Act essentially implemented the following for elementary schools:

• Every child in elementary schools in Tennessee will now receive 2 days per week of instructional physical education.
• The total physical education class time each school week shall be no less than 60 minutes.  
• Physical education class shall be taught by a licensed teacher with an endorsement in physical education. 
• Implementation of the Tom Cronan Bill for Elementary Physical Education begins in July of 2019, the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.

Tennessee State legislators have pushed the implementation of the Tom Cronan Act till 2020-21 school year and some people are trying to get rid of the Cronan Act in totality. 

Some may try to tell you that 45 minutes of Physical Education for 1 day per week does as much good as 30 minutes for 2 days per week (minimum amount outlined in Tom Cronan Act).  To this I would ask you, how likely are children to remember information or skills that they have been exposed to one time every 7 days?  How much more likely are they to remember that same information if they are exposed to it at least two times every 7 days?  As a parent, how likely are you to remember something that you’ve only heard or experienced once versus twice in a week?  Furthermore, how can we possibly expect anyone - let alone an educator - to do their job effectively if all they are given is 45 minutes of one day per week? It simply isn’t possible.  

Please do NOT allow our children to be further deprived of quality Physical Education that is vital in our fight to end the childhood obesity epidemic that has been allowed to run rampant in our state.  

CDC Recommendation for Healthy Schools

Childhood Obesity Facts

Youth Obesity Maps

Tom Cronan Bill, More Info(TAHPERD Website)