Local Education Agencies

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify the exact nature of the alternative lessons, assignments, or activities that must be provided.

Changes to Student Discipline Rules

This bill changes Tennessee's rules about when students can be denied physical activity time as punishment.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the rule that prohibits withholding a student from participating in physical activity as a form of punishment.
• Allows teachers and administrators to deny a student the chance to participate in physical activities if they break school rules or behave badly.
• Requires schools to give alternative lessons, assignments, or activities to students who are not allowed to do physical activities as punishment.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students in Tennessee's elementary schools
• Teachers and administrators at local education agencies

Terms To Know

LEA

Local Education Agency, which is a school district or other organization that manages public schools.

Physical activity

Unstructured playtime outside during the school day, not including physical education classes or time using electronic devices.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how long a student can be denied physical activity as punishment.
• It is unclear if this change will affect all types of misbehavior equally.

Official Summary Text

Present law requires each LEA to integrate 40 minutes of physical activity per full school day for elementary school students. In order to satisfy this requirement, p
hysical activity
m
ust include unstructured play outside, unless weather conditions negatively impact reasonable execution of physical activity outside
, and d
oes not include
t
ime during which a student is permitted to use an electronic device or
t
ime spent by a student in a physical education class
. Present law prohibits a
student
from
be
ing

withheld from participating in physical activity as a form of punishment.

This bill removes the prohibition for a student to be withheld from participating in physical activity as a form of punishment, and provides that

a
student may be denied the privilege of participating in physical activity if the student engages in conduct or behavior that violates the discipline policy or code of conduct adopted by the school or school district, or if the student engages in any viole
nt or threatening behavior or any other behavior that significantly disrupts or impairs the ability of other
students to participate in, and receive the benefits of, the physical activity.

This bill authorizes a
teacher or administrator, as a form of discipline
, to do either of the following
:



Remove a student from, or deny a student participation in, any physical activity or physical activity period for engaging in any conduct or behavior described above.


Assign a student who is removed from, or denied participation in, any physical activity or physical activity period alternative lessons, assignments, or activities, including physical activities, to improve the student's conduct or behavior.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2187
By Stevens

HOUSE BILL 2391
By Martin B
HB2391
012194
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
49-6-1021, relative to student discipline.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-1021(b)(2), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead:
(2) To satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a)(1), physical activity:
(A) Must include unstructured play outside, unless weather conditions
negatively impact reasonable execution of physical activity outside; and
(B) Does not include:
(i) Time during which a student is permitted to use an electronic
device; or
(ii) Time spent by a student in a physical education class.
(3)
(A) A student may be denied the privilege of participating in physical
activity if the student engages in conduct or behavior that violates the discipline
policy or code of conduct adopted by the school or school district, or if the
student engages in any violent or threatening behavior or any other behavior that
significantly disrupts or impairs the ability of other students to participate in, and
receive the benefits of, the physical activity required in this section.
(B) A teacher or administrator may, as a form of discipline:
(i) Remove a student from, or deny a student participation in, any
physical activity or physical activity period for engaging in any conduct or
behavior described in this subdivision (b)(3); or

- 2 - 012194

(ii) Assign a student who is removed from, or denied participation
in, any physical activity or physical activity period pursuant to this
subdivision (b)(3) alternative lessons, assignments, or activities, including
physical activities, to improve the student's conduct or behavior.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.