The bill amends Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws regarding health and physical education instruction in public and state-controlled schools. It mandates that all children in grades one through twelve receive at least twenty minutes of health and physical education daily, with specific curricula based on the Rhode Island health and physical education frameworks. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the incorporation of substance abuse and suicide prevention education into the health curriculum, including specific information about the dangers of mixing opioids and alcohol.

New provisions are introduced that require the Department of Education to create guidelines and materials to assist schools in developing a comprehensive health curriculum that includes mental health education. Specifically, every school district must provide a four-hour unit of instruction on mental health for all seventh-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill aims to enhance student understanding of the relationship between physical and mental health, promoting overall well-being and dignity. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5112: 16-22-4