5144.4(a) - Physical Exercise and Discipline of Students

5144.4 (a)

Students

Discipline

Physical Exercise and Discipline of Students

The Board of Education (Board) recognizes that a positive approach toward exercise and physical activity is important to the health and well-being of students. The Board requires that each student in elementary school shall have not less than twenty minutes daily in total devoted to physical exercise, except that a Planning and Placement Team may alter such schedule for a child requiring special education and related services. Further, the Board permits, in its elementary schools, including an additional amount of time, beyond the required twenty minutes for physical exercise, devoted to undirected play during the regular school day, subject to the approval of the building administration.

All aspects of the school experience should encourage students to have a healthy attitude toward exercise and promote the life-long enjoyment of physical activity. Therefore, when school employees impose disciplinary consequences for student misconduct during the regular day, the following restrictions shall apply:

1. Loss of Recess as Disciplinary Consequence

Except as provided below, school employees may NOT prevent a student in elementary school from participating in the entire time devoted to physical exercise or undirected play in the regular school day as a form of discipline. Recess and other physically active learning opportunities may include movement-oriented learning activities in the academic environment, physical activity breaks, and regularly scheduled school wide routines and events that engage students in physical activity that is the time devoted each day (at least 20 minutes) to physical exercise in the District's elementary schools.

Loss of recess or other physically active learning opportunities as a form of discipline may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if approved in writing by the building administration prior to the imposition of the discipline. Such approval may be granted for safety reasons, as a last resort before in-school suspension, or in extraordinary situations when alternative strategies to address student misconduct have been ineffective.

This restriction shall not apply to students who are receiving in-school suspension.

2. Physical Activity as Punishment

School employees may NOT require students enrolled in grades K-12, inclusive, to engage in physical activity as a form of discipline during the school day.

3. Wellness Instruction

School employees shall not prevent students from participating in physical exercise or undirected play during wellness instruction as a form of discipline.

This restriction does not apply to brief periods of respite/time-outs, referrals to the building administrator, or for safety reasons.

At no time shall an entire class be prevented from participating in wellness instruction or physical exercise activity as a disciplinary consequence.

The Superintendent of Schools is authorized to develop guidelines to implement this policy.

Nothing in this policy shall prevent a school employee from acting in accordance with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed by the student's Planning and Placement Team (PPT).

For the purpose of this policy, "school employee" means a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, school counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by the Board or working in a public elementary, middle or high school; or any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to, or on behalf of students enrolled in a public elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the Board.

Any employee who fails to comply with this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. Any contracted individual who provides services to or on behalf of District students and who fails to comply with the requirements of this policy may be subject to having his/her contract for services suspended by the District.

(cf. 6142.10 - Health Education Program)

(cf. 6142.101 - Wellness)

(cf. 6142.61 - Physical Activity)

(cf. 6142.6 - Physical Education)

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-221o Lunch periods. Recess (as amended by P.A. 12-116, An Act Concerning Educational Reform, and P.A. 13-173, An Act Concerning Childhood Obesity and Physical Exercise in Schools and P.A. 19-173 An Act Concerning the Improvement of Child Development Through Play)

10-221u Boards to adopt policies addressing the use of physical activity as discipline. (as amended by PA 18-15)

Policy Adopted: November 2019