2019 -- H 5069

========

LC000087

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, and Hull

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     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 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.

     (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 2020-2021 school year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000087

========

LC000087 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

***

     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.

========

LC000087

========

LC000087 - Page 3 of 3