BSB/4/11
Sponsored by Adah Herndon, Bella Greene of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
This legislation was filed in the Education category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH LEGISLATURE |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this act, unless the context requires otherwise, shall be defined as follows: |
| 4 | 1.1.Nap Time: An unstructured period during the kindergarten school day in which students are |
| 5 | provided with the opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge through sleep or quiet activities. |
| 6 | 1.2.Snack Time: A scheduled break during the kindergarten school day in which students are |
| 7 | provided with nutritious food and beverages to support their physical health and well-being. |
| 8 | 1.3.Play Time: A structured period of time during the kindergarten school day in which students |
| 9 | engage in unstructured or guided play activities designed to promote social, emotional, physical, |
| 10 | and cognitive development. |
| 11 | 1.4.Structured Play: Play activities organized or facilitated by teachers or staff members to |
| 12 | promote specific learning objectives or skills development, such as imaginative play, cooperative |
| 13 | games, sensory exploration, and creative expression. |
| 14 | 1.5.Healthy Snacks: Nutritious food and beverages that meet state and federal nutrition |
| 15 | guidelines, including but not limited to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, lean |
| 16 | proteins, and water. |
| 17 | 1.6.Qualified Staff Members: Educators, aides, or other personnel with appropriate training and |
| 18 | qualifications to supervise and support students during nap, snack, and play times, including |
| 19 | knowledge of age-appropriate care practices, safety protocols, and behavior management |
| 20 | strategies. |
| 21 | 1.7.Well-being: The overall physical, emotional, social, and cognitive health and happiness of |
| 22 | students, encompassing factors such as nutrition, rest, physical activity, social interactions, and |
| 23 | emotional regulation. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Section 2: |
| 26 | 2.1.Recognizing the paramount importance of nurturing the holistic well-being and development of |
| 27 | young learners, this bill seeks to elevate the kindergarten experience in Tennessee by instituting |
| 28 | dedicated nap, snack, and play times within public kindergarten programs. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | Section 3: Implementation of Nap Time |
| 31 | 3.1. All public kindergarten programs in the state of Tennessee shall allocate a minimum of 30 |
| 32 | minutes per day for nap time. |
| 33 | 3.2. Nap time shall be scheduled in alignment with the natural rest cycles of young children, |
| 34 | preferably after lunch. |
| 35 | 3.3. During nap time, students shall be provided with comfortable and safe sleeping |
| 36 | arrangements, such as mats or cots, in a designated area conducive to rest. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | |
| 39 | Section 4: Establishment of Snack Time |
| 40 | 4.1. All public kindergarten programs in the state of Tennessee shall allocate a minimum of 15 |
| 41 | minutes per day for snack time. |
| 42 | 4.2. Snack time shall be scheduled at an appropriate time, such as mid-morning or mid-afternoon, |
| 43 | to ensure that students have access to nourishment during the school day. |
| 44 | 4.3. Healthy snacks, in compliance with state and federal nutrition guidelines, shall be provided to |
| 45 | students during snack time. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | Section 5: Incorporation of Play Time |
| 48 | 5.1. All public kindergarten programs in the state of Tennessee shall allocate a minimum of 30 |
| 49 | minutes per day for structured play time. |
| 50 | 5.2. Play time shall encompass a variety of activities, including but not limited to outdoor play, |
| 51 | imaginative play, and sensory play, to promote physical activity, social interaction, and creativity |
| 52 | among students. |
| 53 | |
| 54 | Section 6: Staffing and Supervision |
| 55 | 6.1. Qualified staff members shall supervise nap, snack, and play times to ensure the safety and |
| 56 | well-being of students. |
| 57 | 6.2. Staff members shall receive training on age-appropriate play practices, including the |
| 58 | facilitation of inclusive and engaging play experiences for all students. |
| 59 | |
| 60 | Section 7: Reporting and Accountability |
| 61 | 7.1. The Tennessee Department of Education shall periodically review kindergarten programs to |
| 62 | assess adherence to the guidelines outlined in this act and provide support and resources as |
| 63 | needed. |
| 64 | 7.2. Kindergarten programs failing to adhere to the provisions outlined in this act shall be subject |
| 65 | to penalties as determined by the Tennessee Department of Education. |
| 66 | 7.3. Penalties may include but are not limited to: |
| 67 | a) Reduction of state funding allocated to the non-compliant school district. |
| 68 | b) Issuance of warnings or citations with a specified timeline for corrective action. |
| 69 | c) Implementation of a corrective action plan, supervised by the Department of Education, to |
| 70 | ensure compliance with wellness provisions. |
| 71 | d) In extreme cases of persistent non-compliance, the withholding of accreditation status or |
| 72 | other regulatory measures deemed appropriate by the Department of Education. |
| 73 | 7.4. The Department of Education shall establish clear guidelines and procedures for enforcing |
| 74 | compliance and administering penalties, ensuring consistency and fairness across all kindergarten |
| 75 | programs in the state. |
| 76 | |
| 77 | Section 8: Funding |
| 78 | 8.1. While this bill will not require funding from the state of Tennessee, it’s at the districts |
| 79 | discretion to supplement funds from the educational budget to provide snacks and play items for |
| 80 | their students. |
| 81 | 8.2. Additional funding may be sought through grants, donations, or other sources to supplement |
| 82 | the resources allocated by the state. |
| 83 | |
| 84 | Section 9: Effective Date |
| 85 | 9.1. This act shall take effect at the beginning of the next academic year following its passage. |
| 86 |