102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB0654

 

Introduced 2/24/2021, 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, 2021.


LRB102 12874 CMG 18217 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0654LRB102 12874 CMG 18217 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
527-6.3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-6.3 new)
7    Sec. 27-6.3. Play time required in elementary school.
8    (a) All public schools shall provide daily time for
9supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students
10in kindergarten through grade 8. Play time must allow
11unstructured play, and may include organized games, but shall
12not include the use of computers, tablets, phones, or videos.
13Schools are encouraged to provide play time outdoors, but it
14may be held indoors. If play time is held indoors, schools are
15encouraged to provide it in a space that promotes physical
16activity. Time spent dressing or undressing for outdoor play
17time shall not count towards the daily time for play.
18    (b) Play time shall not count as a course of physical
19education that fulfills the requirements of Section 27-6, nor
20shall time spent in a course of physical education count
21towards the daily time for play.
22    (c) Play time shall be considered clock hours for the
23purposes of Section 10-19.05. For any school day 5 clock hours

 

 

SB0654- 2 -LRB102 12874 CMG 18217 b

1or longer in length, the total time allotted for play must be
2at least 60 minutes. For any school day less than 5 clock hours
3in length, the total time allotted for play each school day
4must be at least one-fifth of a day of attendance for the
5student pursuant to Section 10-19.05. Play time may be divided
6into play periods of at least 15 consecutive minutes in
7length.
8    (d) To the maximum extent appropriate, pursuant to
9subsection (d) of Section 14-8.02, students with disabilities
10shall participate in play time with students who do not have a
11disability. Special activities in play time shall be provided
12for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as
13determined by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act
14of 1987, prevents his or her participation in play time.
15    (e) All public schools shall prohibit the withholding of
16play time as a disciplinary or punitive action, except when a
17student's participation in play time poses an immediate threat
18to the safety of the student or others. School officials shall
19make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats and
20minimize the use of exclusion from play to the greatest extent
21practicable and in accordance with subsection (d).
 
22    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
232021.