Does it affect your state?

STATES WITH MANDATORY RECESS

California, Washington, Missouri, Florida, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Arkansas, Louisiana

In 2024, in all California schools, Recess is a RIGHT not a privilege.

California’s New Recess Mandate: Are you ready?

SB 291- For the 2024-25 school year all schools are required to provide 30 minutes of recess for elementary school students everyday.

• Recess cannot be taken away and used as punishment.

Why?

• Research shows kids need relief from structured class environment.
• Recess provides a crucial time for social skills development.
• Recess provides a time for kids to decompress and has restorative benefits for returning to classroom “Ready to Learn”.

Tips for being prepared for the new recess mandate.

• Provide enough loose equipment like balls, bean bags, scoops, etc so student can be actively involved in games.
• Provide enough painted game markings so kids have enough to do at recess.
• Teach children a consistent set of game rules to decrease playground arguments.
• Develop consistent expectations for playground behavior with consequences identified.

Recess cannot be taken away and used as punishment.

View these Free Resources for assisting you with alternatives to withholding recess.

• 64 Alternatives to Withholding Recess
• Discipline Alternatives to Withholding Recess
• Positive Alternatives to Withholding Recess
• Alternatives to Tag

View all Articles 

FREE WEBINAR TO LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE RECESS AND PROVIDE MORE PEACEFUL PLAY

Peaceful Playgrounds offers bi-monthly FREE Webinars to learn the SOLUTIONS to playground hassles and headaches!

Learn the 5 PROBLEMS we identified and the 5 SOLUTIONS to those problems!

If you’re a Principal that dreads recess, we make Recess a breeze!

• Get kids active and having FUN!
• No more children lined up outside the office due to playground conflicts
• Eliminate playground supervisor turnover

View the webinar dates

Preparation Now will Minimize Problems Later

Tips for being prepared for the new recess mandate:

1. Provide enough loose equipment like balls, bean bags, scoops, etc so student can be actively involved in games.

2. Provide enough painted game markings so kids have enough to do at recess.

3. Teach children a consistent set of game rules to decrease playground arguments.

4. Develop consistent expectations for playground behavior with consequences identified.

PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS TO MAKE RECESS A BREEZE!