5144.4P Physical Exercise and Discipline of Students

Colchester Public Schools
                                 CABE-SUGGESTED NEW POLICY

                                                                                              5144.4P

                                                                                         STUDENTS

                       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



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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.

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(cf. 6142.101 – Wellness)

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-221o Lunch periods. Recess (as amended by P.A. 12-116, An Act Concerning Educational
Reform, 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:        January 14, 2020

COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut




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