Bill Text: NJ S1501 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires a public school district to provide a daily recess period for students in grades kindergarten through 5.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-12-19 - Assembly Floor Amendment Passed (Eustace) [S1501 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1501-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires a public school district to provide a daily recess period for students in grades kindergarten through 5.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning recess in public elementary schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Currently 16% of the nation's children are overweight, and an increasing number of children are developing cardiovascular risk factors and type 2 diabetes;
b. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Education, and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommend that school-aged children should participate in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity;
c. Participation in a regularly scheduled recess period provides an opportunity for children to engage in essential physical activity and to establish healthy habits early in life;
d. Recess also affords a child the opportunity to practice skills such as cooperation, communication, and creativity, and a break from the day's routine improves attention, focus, behavior, and learning in the classroom; and
e. Because recess is such a vital component of a comprehensive school physical activity program and the total educational experience for elementary school students, it is therefore in the best interest of the elementary students in this State that they be provided with a daily recess period.
2. Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, a public school district shall provide a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through 5. The recess period shall not be scheduled immediately before or after the student's physical education class and no student shall be denied recess for any reason.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, a public school district must provide a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through 5. The bill also provides that the recess period may not be scheduled immediately before or after the student's physical education class and that no student can be denied recess for any reason.
Participation in a regularly scheduled recess period provides an opportunity for children to engage in essential physical activity and to establish healthy habits early in life. In addition, recess affords a child the opportunity to practice skills such as cooperation, communication, and creativity, and a break from the day's routine improves attention, focus, behavior, and learning in the classroom.
