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House approves bill to add baseball to school PE curriculum after committee review and debate over facilities and teacher training
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Summary
Lawmakers approved Project of the House 366 to add baseball and its fundamentals to the physical education curriculum. Supporters said it restores a historical pipeline for athletes; some educators urged caution about facilities, teacher qualifications and whether a single sport should be mandated.
The House approved Project of the House 366 on June 24, 2025, a measure that would add baseball and its basic principles to the public-school physical-education curriculum. The final vote recorded on the floor was 36 in favor and 17 opposed.
Representative Omaira Martínez Vázquez, the bill’s author and a member of the Education Committee, said the proposal aims to revive Puerto Rico’s historical strength in baseball development and broaden opportunities for students in districts that produce professional players. The committee reported the bill with a favorable recommendation following public input and executive-session review.
Several educators and legislators raised practical concerns during floor debate. Representative Rey Figueroa Acevedo, a physical-education teacher, said class time should prioritize general physical development and warned that mandating a specific sport risks diverting resources from broader fitness objectives. He and others also noted that many schools lack the facilities and equipment to teach baseball safely, and that teacher training requirements for sport-specific instruction were not addressed in the bill.
Representative Tatiana Pérez, who chairs the Education Committee, defended the committee’s process and said the measure can be implemented with curricular guidance and local adjustments. She noted that the bill is intended to be flexible and that implementation can include adaptation where facilities are limited. The bill’s author acknowledged the concerns and said floor amendments and future regulatory guidance could address teacher preparation and facility gaps.
Why it matters: The legislation alters the school physical-education curriculum and will require the Department of Education to incorporate baseball fundamentals into teaching materials and training. Implementation will involve decisions about facility access, teacher preparation and whether schools without fields will teach adapted drills or partner with municipalities and community leagues.
Next steps: The bill passed the House; it now awaits further steps (Senate consideration and, if approved, Department of Education implementation guidance). The Education Committee and the bill sponsors said they will pursue clarifying amendments and coordination with schools and federations.
