2016 -- H 7644 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM -- FREE PLAY RECESS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Carson, Amore, Serpa, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Findings. - The General Assembly finds as follows:

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     (1) Free play time increasing learning outcomes for students; and

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     (2) The department of elementary and secondary education aspires to offer our children

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the opportunities to participate in recess; and

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     (3) The legislature recognizes recess as a right for our youngest learners.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws entitled "Curriculum [See Title 16

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Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto

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the following section:

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     16-22-4.2. Free play recess. -- All children attending public schools, or any other

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schools managed or controlled by the state, that has elementary grades kindergarten through six

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(6) shall receive in those schools at least twenty (20) consecutive minutes of supervised, safe, and

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unstructured free play recess each day. Free play recess may be considered instructional time for

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those schools that would be required to extend the current school day in order to meet this

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requirement. Teachers shall make a good faith effort to not withhold recess for punitive reasons.

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Free play recess is in addition to the requirements set forth in ยง16-22-4. As used herein, the term

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"free play" means an unstructured environment, but which is supervised by appropriate school

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personnel or staff.

 

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM -- FREE PLAY RECESS

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     This at would require public schools to provide students in grades kindergarten through

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five (5) with at least twenty (20) minutes of free play recess each school day.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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