| Chapter 115 |
| 2017 -- H 5177 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/30/2017 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM |
| Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Kazarian, Marshall, Bennett, and Solomon |
| Date Introduced: January 19, 2017 |
| 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, 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 which 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 and/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 consider, in |
| consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and |
| hospitals, the incorporation of 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. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC000564/SUB A |
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