Local Education Agencies

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on alternative lessons or activities that must be given to students who are denied physical activity, nor does it specify how this change will affect students with special needs or those who rely on physical activity for health reasons.

Changes to Student Discipline Rules

This bill changes Tennessee laws about how schools can discipline students by allowing them to be denied physical activity as punishment for certain behaviors.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the rule that says students cannot be kept from playing outside or doing other activities because of bad behavior.
• Allows teachers and school leaders to take away a student's chance to play outside if they break rules or act in ways that stop others from enjoying physical activity.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students who attend elementary schools in Tennessee
• Teachers and administrators at local education agencies

Terms To Know

LEA

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

Physical activity

Unstructured play outside during the school day for elementary students in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what kind of alternative lessons or activities must be given to students who are denied physical activity.
• It is unclear how this change will affect students with special needs or those who rely on physical activity for health reasons.

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

HOUSE BILL 2391
By Martin B

SENATE BILL 2187
By Stevens
SB2187
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.