2016 -- H 7644

========

LC004716

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

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:

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

the opportunities to participate in recess; and

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

the following section:

9

     16-22-4.2. Free play recess. -- All children in grades kindergarten through five (5)

10

attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the state, shall receive

11

in those schools one hundred (100) minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess

12

each week so that there are at least twenty (20) consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day.

13

Free-play recess may not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons, and is in addition to the

14

requirements set forth in ยง16-22-4. As used herein, the term "free play" means an unstructured

15

environment, but which is supervised by appropriate school personnel or staff.

16

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004716

========

 

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM -- FREE PLAY RECESS

***

1

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

2

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

3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004716

========

 

LC004716 - Page 2 of 2