The Superintendent of Mountain Home Public Schools Dr. Jake Long has confirmed the school district’s intention to apply for extended playground time for Nelson-Wilkes Herron Students. A new initiative, Act 1062 initially passed in the legislature last year, would allow students to have extra time. Participating schools will have to provide at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity for students in kindergarten through the 4th grade. Students in grades 5 and 6 should be required to have at least 45 minutes per day of unstructured physical activity time.
The Arkansas Department of Education is seeking applications from Arkansas public schools to participate in the pilot program. It will begin with the 2018-19 school year and continue throughout the school year once participating schools are chosen. Thirty-two schools will be selected to participate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adolescents receive 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. In addition to physical and mental health benefits achieved through physical activity, research has shown physical activity can also help children to improve concentration, memory, and classroom behavior.
Participating schools will receive training and technical assistance during the spring and summer of 2018 to prepare for implementation in the 2018-19 school year.
The schools selected to participate in the pilot will be notified by April 6th.
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