The Buffalo Schools District Parent Coordinating Council says the district is not following the law when it comes to physical education in its buildings. The organization filed a formal appeal Friday calling on the State Education Department to intervene.
The parent group claims 30 to 45 percent of Buffalo school children are overweight. Health chair of the District Parent Council Jessica Bauer Walker says students are not getting enough physical activity.
"We're just asking for the bare minimum of what the law requires in terms of physical education. When you look at public health statistics and the data that links health outcomes to education outcomes, we feel that this is really critical," Walker told WBFO News.
Walker says the group advocated the return of recess last year, which he says more schools have once again implemented. She says the district is providing only "a fraction" of physical education required by the state.
The appeal was filed with the school district and also with the State Education Department. The Council is calling on Commissioner John King to provide oversight.