Volume 2, Number 1 
 
State of Georgia 
 
July 2007 
 
Childhood obesity affects millions At a Glance: 
 
of children in U.S. 
 
Accountability and 
 
By: Ginny Powell, Senior Policy Analyst 
 
Achievement: 
 
Childhood obesity is a serious public health issue affecting the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of obese children and adolescents has tripled over the past 20 years. Today, 17 percent of children ages 2 to 
 
No Child Left Behind and Charter Schools 
Asenith T. Dixon, Senior Policy Analyst 
 
19 are severely overweight, and childhood obesity has developed into an Accountability and achievement have 
 
alarming 
 
epidemic. Obese children have an increased risk for health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, poor 
 
been touted by state and federal officials over the last five years as the keys to educating our students. The 
 
female reproductive health, and low self-esteem. In passage of the No Child Left Behind 
 
fact, a recent study by the American Medical Asso- (NCLB) Act in 2002 mandated that 
 
ciation found that 61 percent of overweight chil- all school systems across the country 
 
dren ages 5 to 10 had at least one risk factor for meet the same standards and goals 
 
heart disease. Furthermore, obesity during 
 
for educating students. States, 
 
youth is the greatest predictor of obesity dur- school districts, schools, and teachers 
 
ing adulthood, which can lead to a number of are now required to report student chronic diseases including Type 2 diabetes, test scores and proficiency based on heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pres- standards approved by the United sure, cancer, stroke, and depression. Overweight and obe- States Department of Education. 
 
sity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than If schools do not meet the standards 
 
what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also created for that state for at least two 
 
identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood consecutive years, students then have 
 
of certain diseases and other health problems. 
 
the choice of receiving free tutoring 
 
or transferring to another public 
 
Childhood Obesity in Georgia 
 
school or a charter school. In this 
 
The childhood obesity epidemic is creating a major health crisis in Geor- way, the NCLB Act has provided 
 
gia, for our obesity rates are notably higher than those in other states. Research conducted by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) indicates that the percentage of obese children in Georgia is four times 
 
charter schools with an opportunity to help fill the achievement gap. Like public schools, charter schools are held accountable for student achieve- 
 
higher than the 5 percent expected, based on a reference population. The ment and are required to meet an- 
 
obesity prevalence among children ages 6 to 19 more than tripled over nual federal and state academic stan- 
 
the last 20 years. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 third graders in this state are 
 
dards; however, charter schools have 
 
obese, while 33 percent of middle school students and 26 percent of high the added flexibility of autonomy 
 
school students are severely overweight or at risk for becoming over- from many state education regula- 
 
weight. 
 
tions. 
 
(Continued on Page 2) 
 
(Continued on Page 3) 
 
Page One 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office 
 
 Childhood obesity (Continued from Page 1) 
 
Moreover, 12 percent of children often watching three or more hours billion are spent every year in this 
 
ages 2 to 4 who are enrolled in the of TV every day. Parents fre- 
 
country on weight loss products 
 
Women, Infant, and Children 
 
quently turn to highly-processed and services. 
 
(WIC) program are considered fast food for financial reasons and to 
 
obese, and 15 percent are at risk for save time, without realizing the ef- With regard to obese children, the 
 
becoming overweight. Data col- fects these foods have on a child's national cost is estimated at $3 
 
lected by DHR further shows that health. New data from the Medical billion for those covered by Medi- 
 
College of Georgia's (MCG) Pre- caid; children with Medicaid are 
 
Overweight and obesity 
 
vention Institute revealed that chil- six times more likely to be treated dren often begin drinking soda be- for obesity than those with private 
 
are both labels for 
 
fore their first birthday. According insurance. Hospital costs for obese 
 
ranges of weight that are greater than what is 
 
to Dr. Catherine Davis, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at MCG, parents "need to awaken to the fact 
 
children also increased from $35 million in 1981 to nearly $130 million in 2004 nationwide. 
 
generally considered 
 
that being overweight in childhood The CDC estimates that Georgia 
 
healthy for a given 
 
isn't just an appearance issue. It's a health issue, and a big one." 
 
height. The terms also 
 
identify ranges of weight 
 
The MCG studies also indicated a sudden increase in the number of 
 
spends nearly $2.1 billion per year in costs associated with obesity from childhood through adulthood. Approximately $385 million 
 
that have been shown to increase the likelihood 
 
children in Georgia with Type 2 diabetes--the adult "lifestylerelated" version of the disease. Cur- 
 
of this amount is paid for by Medicaid, which represents 10 percent of the total Medicaid budget. The 
 
of certain diseases and rently, there are approximately 
 
total cost of diabetes in Georgia is 
 
other health problems. 
 
715,000 Georgians living with this over $4 billion per year due to form of diabetes, which represents a medical care, lost productivity, 
 
girls, African-American children, 20 percent increase over the past and premature death. 
 
and children living in low-income households or rural areas are more likely to be obese. 
 
five years. Type 2 diabetes is quickly becoming a disease of childhood and midlife, as opposed to developing at an older age. 
 
State Legislative Action 
Healthier eating and increased physical activity are essential in 
 
Poor diet and lack of exercise have played large roles in the rise in obesity among children in Georgia and across the country. Few schools in Georgia have nutrition policies requiring that students be offered fruits and vegetables at lunchtime, and fattening foods, candy, and soft drinks are easily accessible in nearly all middle and high schools. Furthermore, only 3 in 10 middle and high school students in this state attend daily physical education classes. 
At home, children are spending more time in front of the television, 
 
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billion of the total cost of breast and 
 
islation 
 
colon cancers. Finally, nearly $33 
 
(Continued on Page 4) 
 
Page Two 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office 
 
 At A Glance (Continued from Page 1) 
 
Past, Present, and Future of ring to a better-performing public when a state has reached its caps on 
 
No Child Left Behind 
 
school. As of the 2005-2006 school the number of charters set by state 
 
The purpose of NCLB is to close the achievement gap that exists between groups of students. The NCLB recognizes the disparities in reading/ language arts and mathematics between Blacks, Hispanics, and students living in poverty compared to Whites and more affluent students. The legislation mandates that by 2014 all students must meet grade-level proficiency standards in math and reading/ 
 
year, 308 Georgia schools, or 14.8 per- 
 
cent, were identified as NI. Twenty- 
 
seven school systems in 2006 had 
 
more than 50 percent of their schools 
 
on the NI list. In 2004-2005, 17.4 per- 
 
cent of Georgia schools were identified 
 
as NI; in 2003-2004, 20.3 percent; and, 
 
in 2002-2003, 26.7 percent. As the 
 
numbers indicate, each year more 
 
Geor- gia schools improve and 
 
are 
 
taken off of the NI list. 
 
law. 
Congress is also working diligently to better the NCLB regulations. Congressional leaders are currently drafting legislation that will take into account the difficulties that many states have encountered while implementing NCLB guidelines. For example, Utah rebuffed the NCLB regulations in 2005 and later enacted U-PASS, the Utah Performance Assessment System 
 
language arts in public schools across 
 
The NCLB is for Students. Utah's system deter- 
 
the country. 
 
set to be mines student achievement by com- 
 
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) was created by NCLB as an individual state's measure of progress toward the goal of achieving state academic standards. It sets the minimum level of proficiency 
 
reau- 
 
paring the progress of the same class of students from grade to grade, whereas AYP compares the achievements of one group of students to another group of students from year to year. 
 
that the state, its school dis- 
 
Members of the U.S. House Education 
 
tricts, and schools must achieve each year. Schools must test students every year from 3rd through 8th grades and once in high school. 
 
thorized and Labor Committee discussed prothis year. posing new measures for NCLB that The Presi- would create three major changes. dent and Con- These changes include permitting gress seek to states to use multiple measures for improve the leg- student achievement and progress; 
 
In Georgia, for the 2005-2006 
 
islation in varying 
 
school year, 1,642 of 2,071 schools 
 
ways. In April, 
 
made AYP, which equals about 79 per- 
 
President Bush spoke 
 
cent of schools. For 2006, 53 school at 
 
the Harlem Village 
 
systems in Georgia had 100 percent Academy Charter School in New 
 
AYP. Comparatively, in 2004-2005, York where he outlined potential 
 
81.9 percent of schools made AYP; changes to the NCLB. His proposal 
 
allowing states to opt out of NCLB's accountability requirements; and establishing new tiers of consequences for schools that do not meet AYP due to subgroups that may be struggling, such as students with disabilities or English-language learners. 
 
this equals 1,670 schools out of 2,040. would make it easier for school offi- 
 
In 2003-2004, 79.5 percent made 
 
cials to reorganize failing schools into Charter Schools 
 
AYP, up from 63.7 percent in the 2002-2003 school year. Since 2004, more than three-quarters of Georgia schools have met academic standards in reading/language arts and math. 
If schools do not meet the goals set by their states for two or more consecutive years in the same subject area, the schools and districts are identified as Needs Improvement (NI). Children who attend NI schools have the option 
 
charter schools and allow students who attend failing schools for five consecutive years to receive $4,000 vouchers that would enable students to transfer to other public schools or use the money toward private school tuition. 
President Bush would also like to add a provision to the NCLB reauthorization language that would allow school districts to open new charter schools 
 
The charter school movement began in Minnesota in 1991. It was a bipartisan effort to decrease the high dropout rates and low test scores of students in Minnesota public schools. In 2006, approximately 4,000 charter schools operated in the United States and enrolled 2 percent of all students attending public schools. Only ten states, including Alabama, North and South Dakota, and Kentucky, do not 
 
of receiving free tutoring or transfer- using federal legal authority, even 
 
(Continued on Page 5) 
 
Page Three 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office 
 
 Childhood obesity (Continued from Page 2) 
 
aimed at preventing childhood obe- the steady decline of gym classes in cluding dia- 
 
sity through improved nutritional schools. At least 20 states have en- betes, 
 
standards in schools, mandatory acted legislation to address the lack heart dis- 
 
physical education, and measure- of exercise in schools; most focused ease, 
 
ment of Body Mass Index (BMI). on increasing and refining mini- and 
 
mum activity requirements. For 
 
Improved Nutritional Standards example, Oklahoma, Kentucky, 
 
Legislation regulating the nutri- South Carolina, Texas, and Vir- 
 
tional quality of school foods and ginia all established minimum daily 
 
beverages has been enacted in 17 physical education requirements, 
 
states based on evidence confirm- while Arkansas and Missouri added 
 
asthma. 
 
ing that adequate nutrition en- 
 
course credit for participation in 
 
After 
 
hances academic achievement and extra-curricular sports and gym 
 
BMI is 
 
improves concentration levels. Pol- classes. 
 
calculated 
 
icy approaches included prohibiting 
 
for children, 
 
the sale of certain high-fat foods on Research shows that physical 
 
the BMI num- 
 
campus, limiting access to vending education not only improves a 
 
ber is plotted 
 
machines, and providing the nutri- child's physical health, but 
 
on the CDC 
 
tional content of school foods to also strengthens mental well-being 
 
BMI-for-age 
 
both parents and students. Other and academic performance. Legis- growth 
 
charts (for either 
 
states have focused on creating lation requiring minimum physical girls or boys) to obtain a percentile 
 
school programs to teach nutri- education requirements was intro- ranking. Percentiles are the most 
 
tional education and promote 
 
duced in Georgia in 2005, but was commonly used indicator to assess 
 
physical well-being. 
 
not enacted. Notably, according to the size and growth patterns of in- 
 
Physical Education According to the CDC, fewer than 35 percent of public school students attend daily physical education classes. State budget shortfalls and increased pressure on academic performance have contributed to 
 
DHR, providing every kindergartener and first grader in Georgia with five hours per week of physical education could potentially reduce the number of overweight girls in those grades by 43 percent, and those at risk for being overweight by nearly 60 percent. 
 
dividual children in the United States. The percentile indicates the relative position of the child's BMI number among children of the same sex and age. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Dr. Harold Snieder, 
 
Research from the CDC suggests that 9 percent of total health care expenditures are due to obesity-related illnesses, costing the U.S. an estimated $117 billion annually. 
 
Body Mass Index Legislation Associate Professor of Pediatrics at 
 
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a meas- MCG, noted that, by age five, a 
 
ure of body fat based on height and child's BMI becomes "the best pre- 
 
weight, as well as other factors 
 
dictor of future obesity." 
 
such as age and gender. BMI is the Arkansas became the first state to most widely accepted method used enact BMI legislation in 2003, reto screen for obesity in children quiring schools to measure stuand adolescents because it is rela- dents' BMI and report the findings tively easy to obtain the height and to parents via U.S. mail as a health weight measurements needed to status indicator. Initially, the legiscalculate BMI, it is non-invasive, lation generated significant controand BMI correlates with body fat. versy; however, a research study Physicians often use BMI to deter- conducted by the University of Armine the causes of and treatments kansas for Medical Sciences Colfor obesity-related disorders, in- 
(Continued on Page 5) 
 
Page Four 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office 
 
 Childhood obesity (Continued from Page 4) 
 
lege of Public Health shows that, Senate Study Committee on Diabe- the childhood obesity epidemic by 
 
since implementation of the policy, tes and Childhood Obesity in Geor- enacting policies that address 
 
school obesity rates have remained gia. The Committee will address higher standards of nutrition and 
 
steady and did not increase. More- the increasing prevalence of diabe- daily physical education programs 
 
over, data shows that parents are tes and obesity affecting children in in school settings, encouraging nu- 
 
limiting their children's intake of this state and throughout the coun- tritional and BMI education and 
 
fast food, and more schools are of- try, and will report its findings, awareness in the home, and provid- 
 
fering healthy snacks in vending along with any suggestions for ing greater opportunities for 
 
machines. Most importantly, par- proposed legislation, by December healthy eating and an active life- 
 
ents appear to be reacting posi- 15, 2007. Lieutenant Governor style within the community. 
 
tively to the reporting--57 percent Cagle recently appointed Senators 
 
of doctors in Arkansas reported that at least one parent brought in their child's BMI letter for advice. 
Similarly, in 2005, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia enacted student BMI legislation, while 12 other states, including Georgia, 
 
Greg Goggans, Johnny Grant, Valencia Seay, and Joseph Carter to serve as members of the Committee, with Senator Don Thomas serving as Chairman. 
Georgia can continue to address 
 
Portions of the information discussed herein were provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Centers for Disease Control, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and the Medical College of Georgia's Prevention Institute. 
 
At A Glance considered such legislation. Several 
other states required schools to use 
 
(Continued from Page 3) 
 
BMI as a way to track student 
 
growth and development during scheduled health screenings. 
 
have any charter schools in operation. and reduced lunch programs in 2006 California, Arizona, and Florida have compared to the state average of 50 the highest number of charter schools percent. 
 
What is Georgia doing? 
In July 2003, Georgia's Depart- 
 
currently open: 625, 466, and 391, re- 
 
spectively. 
 
Georgia charter schools made AYP at 
 
unprecedented rates during the 2005- 
 
ment of Human Resources, Divi- Student enrollment in Georgia charter 2006 school year. Approximately 87.8 
 
sion of Public Health, was awarded schools has increased dramatically percent of charter schools in Georgia 
 
a five-year grant from the CDC for over the last three years from 14,828 made AYP in 2006 compared with 79 
 
the purpose of developing a state- in 2003-2004 to 21,094 in 2005-2006. percent of public schools. Graduation 
 
wide Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan to prevent and control 
 
Georgia had 48 operational charter schools in the 2005-2006 school year and 57 during the 2006-2007 school 
 
rates for charter schools in 2006 were higher than for public schools, with 83.6 percent of charter school students 
 
obesity and obesity-related chronic year. As of January, eight new charter graduating compared to the 69.5 per- 
 
diseases. The ten-year comprehen- schools are scheduled to open in the cent graduation rate for public school 
 
sive plan is the result of the Take fall of 2007. 
 
students. 
 
Charge of Your Health, Georgia! 
 
Task Force, and it serves as a blue- Charter schools across the country, The Charter Systems Act, Senate Bill 
 
print for the state to address the prevalence of obesity. Long-term goals of the plan include promoting 
 
due to their predominantly urban area locations, tend to enroll more minorities and less affluent students than traditional public schools. In Georgia, 
 
39, passed during this year's Legislative Session, further improved and strengthened Georgia's charter school regulations. Lieutenant Governor 
 
breastfeeding, improving healthy 41 percent of charter school students Casey Cagle stated, "...I believe first 
 
eating, increasing physical activity, are Black, 9 percent are Hispanic and 5 and foremost that we will see educa- 
 
and decreasing time spent watch- percent are Asian compared to the tional excellence when we untie the 
 
ing television. 
 
statewide averages of 38 percent for hands of our teachers and provide lo- 
 
During the 2007 Legislative Session, the Senate passed Senate 
 
Blacks, 5 percent for Hispanics, and 3 cal control to our educational systems percent for Asian students in 2006. Only then will we begin to meet the Fifty-four percent of Georgia charter needs of the individual child." The 
 
Resolution 517, which created the school students were eligible for free 
 
(Continued on Page 6) 
 
Page Five 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office 
 
 At A Glance (Continued from Page 5) 
 
provisions within the Act reflect the will remain the only charter author- Texas, but Georgia does not. Senate 
 
current trend in public education 
 
izer, unlike other states that use multi- Bill 39 requires Georgia's Board to cap 
 
whereby local school systems apply to ple authorizers, typically local school the number of charter system petitions 
 
become charter systems and each 
 
boards, state universities, community at five for the 2007-2008 school year. 
 
school within the district is then con- colleges, and the state board of educa- The Board is currently creating rules 
 
verted into a system charter school. tion. Some states impose a cap on the to determine how many charter sys- 
 
growth of charter schools, including tem petitions may be approved each 
 
Georgia's State Board of Education California, Illinois, North Carolina and year thereafter. 
 
2007 Senate Study Committees 
 
Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding, Senator Jeff Mullis, Co-Chair Joint Study Committee on Indigent Defense, Senator Mitch Seabaugh, Co-Chair Senate Study Committee on Diabetes and Childhood Obesity in Georgia, Senator Don Thomas, Chair Joint Study Committee on State Stroke System of Care, Senator Don Thomas, Co-Chair Senate Study Committee on the Shortage of Doctors and Nurses in Georgia, Senator Cecil Staton, Chair Senate Study Comm. on Rights Relating to Reproductive & Genetic Technology, Senator Eric Johnson, Chair Senate Study Committee on State Boards, Commissions, Authorities, Councils and Committees 
Senator Dan Moody, Chair Senate Study Committee on Quality of Child Care in Georgia, Senator Dan Weber, Chair Senate Study Committee on Property and Casualty Rate Regulation, Senator Chip Rogers, Chair Senate Communications Taxes, Fees and Telecommunications Franchising Process Study Committee, 
Senator David Shafer, Chair Senate Study Committee on Hate Crime Legislation, Senator Bill Cowsert, Chair Senate Study Committee on Cigarette Tax Evasion, Senator David Shafer, Chair 
Senate Study Committee on Prescription Drugs, Senator Jack Murphy, Chair Senate Study Committee on Increasing Cargo Capacity at GA Ports. Senator Joseph Carter, Chair 
Senate Study Committee on Health Care Transformation, Senator Judson Hill, Chair Sen. Study Committee on EMS Recruitment, Retention, and Training in GA, Senator Jeff Mullis, Chair 
Joint Study Committee on Fulton County, Senator Dan Moody, Co-Chair Joint Study Committee on Continuing Education and Collegiate Sports Programs for Students 
with Disabilities, Senator Seth Harp, Co-Chair Senate Mental Health Service Delivery Study Committee, Senator Johnny Grant, Chair 
State Lien Law Study Committee, Senator Mitch Seabaugh, Chair Tybee Island Study Committee, Senator Eric Johnson, Chair 
 
Page Six 
 
At Issue 
 
Senate Research Office