§ 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.
(G.L. 1938, ch. 182, § 9; P.L. 1949, ch. 2341, § 1; impl. am. P.L.
1951, ch. 2752, § 21; G.L. 1956, § 16-22-4; P.L. 2008, ch. 254,
§ 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 463, § 2.)