Series 5000: Students

5144.4 Physical Exercise and Discipline of 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 during the regular school day, 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 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 shall be permitted on a case-by-case basis, provided such action does not limit the time devoted to physical exercise to less than twenty minutes during the regular school day. 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 shall 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 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, 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. 

(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)

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, 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. 

(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) 

Policy adopted: June 8, 2020 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOL  Thomaston, Connecticut