A Duval County School Board committee is recommending teachers take their kids out for recess more often.
But parents are calling for the board to require recess daily.
State law requires elementary school students to get 150 minutes of physical education with structured curriculum each week. That’s different from recess, which is free play.
Duval parent Elizabeth Ross says teachers should also be required to give students 20 minutes of recess daily.
“I personally became involved because my child was not receiving recess,” she said at the meeting Wednesday.
Ross started the group Recess for Duval County Public Schools and supported state efforts last year to make recess mandatory. That legislation stalled in the Senate, but it’s expected to come back up next session.
On Wednesday, policy committee members recommended drafting a proclamation encouraging teachers to take their students to recess, not requiring it. They say a policy needs more time, and it might be best to wait on the state.
“A resolution is not what we’re looking for,” Ross said. “We want a policy. It’s basically putting things off, which they admitted. That’s the downside.”
On the upside, she said, “Kids are starting to see more recess because parents are putting pressure on the schools.”
Ross said she’s encouraged by the board’s attitude and recognition that recess can help kids perform better in school.
During the policy meeting, school board member Becki Couch said she’s doubtful all elementary children are even getting the 150 minutes of required physical education. A district staff member said the students’ teachers are supposed to step in and give students “teacher directed PE” during the week to make up the minutes they don’t get in their physical education class.
