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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
schools; recess; definition
Purpose
Modifies the definition of recess to be a time period during the regular school day, excluding student arrival and departure times.
Background
Beginning August 2, 2019, each school district and charter school must provide at least two recess periods during the school day for pupils in kindergarten through grade five. Recess is defined as a period during the regular school day, including time during a scheduled lunch period, during which a pupil can engage in physical activity or social interaction (A.R.S. § 15-118).
A regular school day is the regularly scheduled class periods intended for instructional purposes which may include: 1) core subjects; 2) elective subjects; 3) lunch; 4) study halls; 5) music instruction; and 6) other classes that advance the academic instruction of pupils. Current statute prohibits instructional purposes from including athletic practices or extracurricular clubs and activities (A.R.S. § 15-901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Redefines recess as a time period during the regular school day, excluding student arrival and departure times, when pupils are able to engage in physical activity and social interaction with other pupils, rather than a time period during the regular school day, including time during a scheduled lunch period.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Reinserts the terminology of a regular school day as defined in statute and excludes student arrival and departure times in the definition of recess.
Senate Action
ED 2/12/19 DPA 7-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 14, 2019
JO/CP/gs