Elementary school students will have to be provided with 21/2 hours of physical activity a week under a bill approved Thursday in the Senate Education Committee.

The 21/2 hours could include traditional physical education classes or activities led by classroom teachers.

But schools also could satisfy the requirement with 21/2 hours of recess.

SB 131 is sponsored by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver. He said breaks for physical activity can improve learning.

Objections came from local school boards, who argued that the bill interferes with their prerogative to schedule activities.

Manitou Springs school board member Anna Lord said requiring activity breaks will take time from something else.

The bill was approved without dissent and sent to the Senate floor.

But several committee members indicated they were not comfortable about wading into an area usually left to the local boards.

The panel also approved a bill to overhaul annual reports to the public about achievement levels in the state's public schools.

Under the current system, each school is given a one-word rating - excellent, high, average, low or unsatisfactory.

Under the new system, data will be posted online that the Colorado Department of Education uses to accredit school districts and that the districts use to accredit individual schools.

The one-word ratings would be replaced by accreditation levels. Some schools or districts would be fully accredited; others would be accredited with conditions or would have to make deep reforms.

SB 163, is by Sen. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, and Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Arvada. The measure next goes to the Senate appropriations committee.

Meanwhile, the House education committee approved a measure creating an office of dropout prevention in the Colorado Department of Education.

The office would provide technical assistance to districts with high dropout rates.

The office also would study methods that have been effective in preventing students from dropping out and bringing back students who have left.

HB 1243 is sponsored by Rep. Karen Middleton, D-Aurora, and Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs.

The bill goes to the House appropriations committee.