(1)(a) By April 1, 2024, the Washington state school directors’ association, with the assistance of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, must review and update a model policy and procedure regarding nutrition, health, and physical education.

(b) The model policy and procedure must:

(i) Aim to make elementary school recess safe, inclusive, and high quality for all students;

(ii) Encourage physical activity breaks for middle and high school students;

(iii) Align with the requirements in RCW 28A.230.295;

(iv) Encourage elementary school recess to be scheduled before lunch, whenever possible, to reduce food waste, maximize nutrition, and allow students to be active before eating;

(v) Discourage withholding recess as a disciplinary or punitive action except when a student’s participation in recess poses an immediate threat to the safety of the student or others, and create a process to find and deploy alternatives to the withholding of recess;

(vi) Discourage the withholding of recess to have a student complete academic work;

(vii) Prohibit the use of physical activity during the school day as punishment, such as having students run laps or do push-ups as a punitive action; and

(viii) Align with corporal punishment requirements established in WAC 392-400-825.

(2) By the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, school districts must adopt or amend if necessary policies and procedures that, at a minimum, incorporate all the elements described in subsection (1) of this section.

Intent—2023 c 272: See note following RCW 28A.230.295.