SB23


 * SB23 **


 * Sponsors: **
 * G. Deininger; Oklahoma; Democrat **
 * M. Updyke; Michigan; Republican **


 * Issue Category and Bill Title:**
 * Education; Mandatory Recess Act**


 * Purpose: **
 * We are trying to raise the academic scores, lower the obesity rate, reduce the stress level kids have, and improve the health of students. We can accomplish all of these with one little thing. That thing is called Recess. Research shows that students who have recess in their school day are less fidgety in the classroom and are more alert. It also shows that the physical activity every school day improves the health because it feeds your brain. This can also lower the obesity rate because students will become active. Active students at school are usually active students at home. With the break in between your class can also lower the stress level and allows students to be in charge for once. The outdoor time gives them the Vitamin D that is necessary daily. **


 * Eligibility: **
 * This bill applies to all the puliblic schools below highshcool and people involved with those schools around America. **


 * Terms and Benefits: **
 * The Mandatory Recess Act will go into affect August 1, 2013 and will be in effect for two years, and will continue if Congress re-elects it. Recess will be at least one half periods; the time depends on your period lengths. The federal government will enforce all the terms for the Mandatory Recess Act. Recess will benefit the students with their stress, academic, obesity, and health levels when they are out at their recess. Every school in America that does not have recess currently and does not have the money and funds to afford recess will apply for a grant that will be approved by their state government. The state governments will then give it to the federal government which will also need to approve of it, and then the appropriate amount of money will be given to the schools if it is within the range. Yearly inspections will be provided by the state governments to check each school to make sure that students are receiving outdoor recess if temperature allows. Indoor recess may only be given if the temperature is below 20 degrees or 10 degrees windchill. Schools that fail to enforce recess after four months in effect, will receive the appropriate punishment. They will receive a warning, and if within the next two months recess is still not provided, the school will be shut down until it is. Students must be supervised during recess by a staff member to prevent trouble. Kids that need homework completed must only be banned from recess at the most, twice a week. Saturday school or other punishments will be provided for those circumstances, not taking away recess everyday. Recess should not be a privilage but instead a mandatory time in a students school day. **


 * Fiscal Impact: **
 * The money for this bill will come from the US Department of Education. This fund spends 107,333,609,000 billion dollars each year and we plan on spending 15 million dollars total for our bill. These 15 million dollars will go towards building play grounds or even just buying simple equipment like balls and frisbees. The money will only go towards public schools supported by the government. This money will also go to only the shools who do not have recess currently because of expenses. The limited about the schools can be granted is 1,000 dollars to be spent on recess material. **