SB 948 The Act would give school boards power to allow play-based learning in preschool through grade 5.
Register to testify Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Hi ——-
In an effort to once again bring an emphasis on play and discovery to early childhood education in Oregon, the Oregon Public Education Network (OPEN) has worked with Senator Lew Frederick to introduce the “Play-Based Learning” bill.
SB 948 would allow district school boards to provide for play-based learning during the instructional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five in the school district.
If passed, Oregon would join New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Connecticut in advocating for a return to discovery and play-based learning to counter the current overemphasis on testing and data-centered learning. We believe the current testing and data-centered model has rigidified and constricted curriculum and teaching. We believe it is harmful to a well-rounded and humane early childhood learning experience.
SB 948 would also direct the Oregon Department of Education to provide professional development in play-based learning.
The hearing on the bill in the Oregon Senate Education Committee will be on Wednesday, February 5.
Would you be willing to help in this effort by writing a brief letter as testimony on behalf of SB 948, the “Play-Based Learning” bill? It can be just one or two paragraphs.
If so, I would be glad to submit it for you if you send to me. Alternatively, I will provide the link below if you’d wish to upload it yourself to the Education Committee.
Thank you for considering,
Roscoe Caron, member of OPEN
Digest: The Act would give school boards power to allow play-based learning in preschool through grade 5. (Flesch Readability Score: 74.2). Authorizes district school boards to provide for play-based learning during the instructional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five in the school district. Directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning and Care and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, to provide professional development opportunities in the pedagogy of play-based learning to child care providers and teachers providing instruction in prekindergarten through grade five in this state.
Rogue Primary School has been using this approach with much success: https://rogueprimary.district6.org/
Research on play Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
Why we learn best through play, with Kathy Hirsh Pasek, PhD | Speaking of Psychology
SB 948 SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act would give school boards power to allow play-based learning in preschool through grade 5. (Flesch Readability Score: 74.2).
Authorizes district school boards to provide for play-based learning during the instructional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five in the school district.
Directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning and Care and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, to provide professional development opportunities in the pedagogy of play-based learning to child care providers and teachers providing instruction in prekindergarten through grade five in this state.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to play-based education.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Free play” means unstructured, voluntary and child-initiated activities that are
performed by a child for self-amusement and have behavioral, social and psychomotor re- wards. “Free play” may be fostered to promote activities that are child-directed, joyful and spontaneous.
(b) “Guided play” means learning experiences that combine the child-directed nature of free play with a focus on learning outcomes and adult guidance.
(c) “Instructional time” means time during which students are engaged in regularly scheduled instruction, learning activities or learning assessments that are designed to meet the Common Curriculum Goals and academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education under ORS 329.045.
(d) “Play-based learning” means a pedagogical philosophy that emphasizes free or guided play in promoting learning and uses developmentally appropriate strategies that can be in- tegrated into existing learning standards. “Play-based learning” does not mean time spent in recess or in a physical education class.
(e) “Recess” means a period of at least 20 minutes during the regular school day for students to engage in physical exercise.
(2) Each district school board may provide for play-based learning during the instruc- tional time of each regular school day for all students who are enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five in the school district.
(3) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning and Care and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, shall provide professional development opportunities in the pedagogy of play-based learning to child care providers and teachers providing instruction in prekindergarten through grade five in this state.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted. New sections are in boldfaced type.
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY–2025 Regular Session