Pennsylvania HB 1669: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for free-play recess.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2034
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1669
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
KENYATTA, GIRAL, RABB, BURGOS, PIELLI, WAXMAN, HOWARD,
FREEMAN, WARREN, STEELE, CERRATO, GREEN, ABNEY, BOROWSKI,
McNEILL, SALISBURY, GAYDOS AND COOPER, JUNE 25, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
providing for free-play recess.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1512.2. Free-Play Recess.--(a) Each school board
shall provide at least thirty minutes of supervised, safe and
unstructured free-play recess each day for each student in
kindergarten through grade five, subject to the following:
(1) Students shall not be permitted to replace free-play
recess with additional coursework or instruction unless
requested by the student.
(2) Free-play recess shall not be withheld, in whole or
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part, for punitive reasons or as a make-up period for missed
work, extra credit or testing.
(3) School entities shall direct free-play recess to take
place outside as weather, facilities and other circumstances
allow.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
school entity staff from denying recess for a student on the
advice of a medical professional or school nurse or based on the
provisions of a student's individualized education program under
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 91-
230, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) or 29 U.S.C. § 794 (relating to
nondiscrimination under Federal grants and programs) .
(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Free-play recess" means a period of time during the regular
school day, exclusive of time provided for meals, during which a
student is given a break from structured classroom instruction
and an opportunity to engage in physical activity, unstructured
play or social interaction with other pupils. The term does not
include a period of physical education under section 1512.1.
"School entity" means a school district, intermediate unit,
area career and technical school, charter school, regional
charter school or cyber charter school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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