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:

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

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

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

the opportunities to participate in recess; and

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

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

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

the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free play recess is in addition to the requirements set forth in §16-22-4. As used herein, the term

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

personnel or staff.

     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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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