SB3717 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 20135 CMG 69670 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3717

Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Robert Peters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-6.3 new

Amends the School Code. Provides that all public schools shall provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Specifies further requirements concerning play time. Provides that play time shall not count as a course of physical education. Provides that play time shall be considered clock hours for purposes of the Code. Provides for the inclusion of students with disabilities in play time. Provides that public schools shall prohibit the withholding of play time as a disciplinary or punitive action, except when a student's participation in play time poses an immediate threat to the safety of the student or others. Effective July 1, 2020.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 27-6.3 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-6.3 new)

Sec. 27-6.3. Play time required in elementary school.

(a) All public schools shall provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Play time must allow unstructured play, and may include organized games, but shall not include the use of computers, tablets, phones, or videos. Schools are encouraged to provide play time outdoors, but it may be held indoors. If play time is held indoors, schools are encouraged to provide it in a space that promotes physical activity. Time spent dressing or undressing for outdoor play time shall not count towards the daily time for play.

(b) Play time shall not count as a course of physical education that fulfills the requirements of Section 27-6, nor shall time spent in a course of physical education count towards the daily time for play.

(c) Play time shall be considered clock hours for the purposes of Section 10-19.05. For any school day 5 clock hours or longer in length, the total time allotted for play must be at least 60 minutes. For any school day less than 5 clock hours in length, the total time allotted for play each school day must be at least one-fifth of a day of attendance for the student pursuant to Section 10-19.05. Play time may be divided into play periods of at least 15 consecutive minutes in length.

(d) To the maximum extent appropriate, pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 14-8.02, students with disabilities shall participate in play time with students who do not have a disability. Special activities in play time shall be provided for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as determined by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, prevents his or her participation in play time.

(e) All public schools shall prohibit the withholding of play time as a disciplinary or punitive action, except when a student's participation in play time poses an immediate threat to the safety of the student or others. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats and minimize the use of exclusion from play to the greatest extent practicable and in accordance with subsection (d).

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.