Chapter 254

2008 -- H 7280 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/05/08

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Malik, Naughton, Silva, and Lewiss

Date Introduced: January 29, 2008

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Purpose and findings:

     WHEREAS, Physical inactivity and poor nutrition are major contributors to the

childhood obesity epidemic causing the current generation of youth to have a lower life

expectancy than their parents' generation; and

     WHEREAS, Childhood obesity has increased three hundred percent (300%) over the last

three decades leading to a dramatic increase in the incidence of heart disease, type II diabetes, and

other obesity related diseases among today's children and adolescents; and

     WHEREAS, The economic impact of obesity on our health care system is estimated at

one hundred seventeen billion dollars per year and physical activity offers young people many

overall health benefits including cardiovascular endurance and maintenance of a healthy weight;

and

     WHEREAS, Children who become competent in a wide variety of motor skills are more

apt to participate in a physically active lifestyle.

     SECTION 2. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled

"Curriculum" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00188/SUB A/2

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