Senate Bill 948:
Engaging Students in Education through Play-based Learning
The 1983 report A Nation at Risk sparked decades of education reform efforts in the United States, culminating in policies like the No Child Left Behind Act (2002) and the Common Core State Standards (2010). Despite these initiatives and a narrowed focus on assessed subjects like math and reading, student performance has shown little improvement. In fact, these reforms have often led to more stressful and less engaging classrooms, while significant achievement gaps—especially for low-income and minority students—persist. The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened these disparities.
A new direction is needed—one grounded in the science of learning and centered on Play-based Learning, a pedagogically driven approach that reengages students, families, and educators in meaningful learning experiences.
Principle 1: Integrate Community Values into Play-based Learning
Play-based learning should serve as a bridge between home, community, and school by incorporating students’ family values and cultural knowledge. When educators validate and integrate community voices into classroom learning, students feel more included and engaged.
Principle 2: Apply Learning Science
Research shows that children learn best through active, meaningful, socially interactive, iterative, and joyful experiences. Play-based learning embraces these principles. Unlike free play or traditional direct instruction, play-based learning combines playful exploration with clearly defined learning goals, enhancing outcomes across academic subjects. As a teaching technique—not a separate course—it can be integrated into all areas of the curriculum.
Principle 3: Develop Transferable Skills for Today and Tomorrow
To succeed in a rapidly changing world shaped by technology, students need more than academic knowledge. They must develop the 6 Cs: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation, content mastery, and confidence. Play-based learning provides rich opportunities to cultivate these essential skills through intentional scaffolding and goal-directed activities.
Recommendations
Educators can support student learning by adopting a three-pronged approach:
- Integrate community values into curriculum and classroom practices
- Apply insights from learning science to design engaging, effective experiences
- Foster the 6 Cs alongside academic content
Practical steps include providing opportunities for play-based learning, offering children greater agency, posing open-ended questions, documenting learning processes, involving families, and intentionally promoting the 6 Cs.
Legislative Action: Senate Bill 948
On July 15, 2024, Senator Lew Frederick met with members of the Oregon Public Education Network to discuss priorities for the upcoming legislative session. When he learned of our advocacy for play-based Learning, he enthusiastically shared that he had used a similar approach in his own classroom during the 1990s, which he called “Dinosaur Math.”
Inspired by this conversation, Senator Frederick invited our collaboration in drafting new legislation. The result was Senate Bill 948, which encourages Oregon school districts to adopt play-based educational practices. SB 948 received a warm reception in the Oregon Senate and is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives, where it has garnered strong support.