Title: Public School Recess

Summary: Allows free-play recess to be part of physical education classes for specified grade levels; requires specified amount of free-play recess on days that physical education classes are not held.

Full Text:
An act relating to public school recess; amending s. 1003.45, F.S.; allowing free-play recess to be part of a physical education class for specified grade levels; requiring a specified amount of free-play recess on days physical education classes are not scheduled; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 1003.455, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that section, to read: 1003.455 Physical education; assessment.-(3) Each district school board shall provide minutes of physical education each week for students in kindergarten through grade a nd for students in grade who are enrolled in a school that contains one or more elementary grades so that on any day during which physical education instruction is conducted there are at least consecutive minutes per day. Physical education for studen ts in kindergarten through grade may include free-play recess. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, The equivalent of one class period per day of physical education for one semester of each year is required for students enrolled in grades through 8. Students enrolled in such CS/HB 2017 instruction shall be reported through the periodic student membership surveys, and records of such enrollment shall be audited pursuant to s. 1010.305. Such instruction may be provided by any instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2), regardless of certification, who are designated by the school principal. (6) In addition to the requirements in subsection (3), each district school board shall provide free-play recess each week on days when physical education classes are not held for students in kindergarten through grade so that there are at least consecutive minutes of free-play recess. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.