Authorizes district school boards to provide for play-based learning during the instructional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five in the school district.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 948
Sponsored by Senator FREDERICK (at the request of Oregon Public Education Network)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act would give school boards power to allow play-based learning in preschool
through grade 5. (Flesch Readability Score: 74.2).
Authorizes district school boards to provide for play-based learning during the instructional time
of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five
in the school district.
Directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning
and Care and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, to provide professional development
opportunities in the pedagogy of play-based learning to child care providers and teachers providing
instruction in prekindergarten through grade five in this state.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to play-based education.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Free play” means unstructured, voluntary and child-initiated activities that are
performed by a child for self-amusement and have behavioral, social and psychomotor re-
wards. “Free play” may be fostered to promote activities that are child-directed, joyful and
spontaneous.
(b) “Guided play” means learning experiences that combine the child-directed nature of
free play with a focus on learning outcomes and adult guidance.
(c) “Instructional time” means time during which students are engaged in regularly
scheduled instruction, learning activities or learning assessments that are designed to meet
the Common Curriculum Goals and academic content standards adopted by the State Board
of Education under ORS 329.045.
(d) “Play-based learning” means a pedagogical philosophy that emphasizes free or guided
play in promoting learning and uses developmentally appropriate strategies that can be in-
tegrated into existing learning standards. “Play-based learning” does not mean time spent in
recess or in a physical education class.
(e) “Recess” means a period of at least 20 minutes during the regular school day for
students to engage in physical exercise.
(2) Each district school board may provide for play-based learning during the instruc-
tional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten
through grade five in the school district.
(3) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning
and Care and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, shall provide professional
development opportunities in the pedagogy of play-based learning to child care providers and
teachers providing instruction in prekindergarten through grade five in this state.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 2611
SB 948
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