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| 1 | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Studies have shown that children provided with | ||||||
| 3 | recess are more focused, on-task, and able to concentrate on | ||||||
| 4 | educational material than those who are not afforded a recess | ||||||
| 5 | period; cognitive function improves when a child has the | ||||||
| 6 | opportunity for physical exercise and active play; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, Obesity rates among children have skyrocketed in | ||||||
| 8 | recent years, with one in 3 American children now being | ||||||
| 9 | considered overweight or obese; recess provides children with | ||||||
| 10 | the opportunity for physical exercise during the school day; | ||||||
| 11 | and
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| 12 | WHEREAS, Recess is essential for providing students with a | ||||||
| 13 | less structured period of time in which to engage in social | ||||||
| 14 | interactions and develop interpersonal relationships with | ||||||
| 15 | peers; it is often during this time that children improve their | ||||||
| 16 | leadership and conflict resolution skills; and
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| 17 | WHEREAS, A large number of students go every school day | ||||||
| 18 | with no opportunity for a recess period; therefore, be it
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| 19 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL | ||||||
| 20 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | ||||||
| 21 | CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created a Recess in Schools | ||||||
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| 1 | Task Force; and be it further
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| 2 | RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be charged with | ||||||
| 3 | examining the barriers facing schools in providing daily recess | ||||||
| 4 | to every age-appropriate student and making recommendations | ||||||
| 5 | for overcoming those obstacles; and be it further | ||||||
| 6 | RESOLVED, That the Task force shall be comprised of the | ||||||
| 7 | following 15 members: | ||||||
| 8 | (1) 2 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom | ||||||
| 9 | shall be a medical professional with expertise in | ||||||
| 10 | children's health issues; | ||||||
| 11 | (2) one member appointed by the President of the | ||||||
| 12 | Senate; | ||||||
| 13 | (3) one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; | ||||||
| 14 | (4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of | ||||||
| 15 | Representatives; | ||||||
| 16 | (5) one member appointed by the House Minority Leader; | ||||||
| 17 | (6) one member appointed by the Chicago Board of | ||||||
| 18 | Education; | ||||||
| 19 | (7) one member appointed by the education labor | ||||||
| 20 | organization representing Chicago public school teachers; | ||||||
| 21 | (8) one member appointed by a State-wide education | ||||||
| 22 | labor organization; | ||||||
| 23 | (9) one member appointed by another State-wide | ||||||
| 24 | education labor organization; | ||||||
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| 1 | (10) one member appointed by an organization | ||||||
| 2 | representing principals; | ||||||
| 3 | (11) one member appointed by a Chicago-based coalition | ||||||
| 4 | of low-income mothers and grandmothers focusing on family | ||||||
| 5 | issues; | ||||||
| 6 | (12) one member appointed by a parent-teacher | ||||||
| 7 | organization; | ||||||
| 8 | (13) one member appointed by an organization | ||||||
| 9 | advocating for juvenile justice reform; | ||||||
| 10 | (14) one member appointed by an organization that | ||||||
| 11 | advocates for healthy school environments; and be it | ||||||
| 12 | further | ||||||
| 13 | RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet regularly and | ||||||
| 14 | submit a final report to the General Assembly by June 30, 2010 | ||||||
| 15 | with its recommendations for bringing recess back to the | ||||||
| 16 | maximum number of students.
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