A bill to require daily recess for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade has been placed on Wednesday’s agenda for the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. The legislation calls for a minimum of 20 minutes for free-play every day.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kathleen Fogarty (D-South Kingstown), has said playtime is healthy for young kids, who benefit from developing social skills and getting a break from schoolwork. A group of parents has also been organizing support for the idea.
In addition to recess, the committee will consider legislation to require protective headgear for female softball players, add financial literacy education in high schools and place holocaust and genocide studies in all middle and high schools.
Another bill calls for substance abuse education provided by “licensed chemical dependency professionals.”