2021 -- H 5520

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LC001692

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, McGaw, and Henries

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education.

     (a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other

schools managed and controlled by the state, except as provided in § 16-100-3(d), shall receive in

those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and regulations the

department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve during periods that

shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private school or private

instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title

as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same

city or town unless instruction in health and physical education similar to that required in public

schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum

shall be based on the health education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework:

health literacy for all students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and

consistent with the mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1,

2012, the required physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education standards

of the Rhode Island physical education framework: supporting physically active lifestyles through

quality physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and

consistent with the instructional outcomes therein.

     (b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall incorporate, in

consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

hospitals, substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education curriculum.

For the purpose of this section, "substance abuse prevention" means the implementation of

evidence-based, age-appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the use and abuse of

alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; "suicide prevention" means the implementation of evidence-

based, appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental health awareness and suicide

prevention. Further, "substance abuse prevention" and suicide prevention programs shall

specifically include information provided to students that mixing opioids and alcohol can cause

accidental death.

     (c) The department of education shall promulgate guidelines, rules and regulations for

every school district, private school, mayoral academy, and charter school and make available on

its website, curriculum materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional school

committees, and governing bodies of any private school, mayoral academy, or charter school in

developing instructional material on the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health

and the relation of physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and

behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity. The curriculum material and the

guidelines shall be developed by the department of education in consultation with groups and

individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of mental health and mental illness

treatment.

     (d) Every school district shall include in its curriculum for all seventh grade students, a

four (4) hour unit of instruction on mental health and the relation of physical and mental health.

School districts may utilize materials provided by the department of education and the curriculum

shall be provided for the 2022-2023 school year.

     SECTION 2. 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

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     This act would require the department of education to develop and make available for

school use a mental health curriculum. Schools would be required to provide four (4) hours of

mental health instruction to seventh grade students.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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