Is there a 30 minute recess law in Illinois?

The 30-minute recess law passed in 2021. Surprisingly, the recess requirement was somewhat divisive. It only passed 60-52 in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Can teachers take away recess in Illinois?

'They're not taught anything about recess'

A 2021 law made it mandatory to provide 30 minutes of daily, unstructured recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Unlike similar recess laws in Arizona and Florida, the law also prohibits schools from taking away recess as a disciplinary measure.

Are teachers allowed to keep you in for recess?

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 291 into law last week, making a half-hour of recess mandatory for all elementary school students from kindergarten through eighth grade in the state. The new law will also prohibit educators from withholding recess as a form of punishment.

In what states is recess mandatory?

There's no official count of states that mandate recess. According to a count by the National Association of State Boards of Education, there are nine: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

Should recess be longer than 30 minutes?

Like an adult who has a full-time job gets two breaks and a lunch, school age children should get two 20-minute recesses (one before and one after lunch) and one 30–45-minute lunch (depending how long classes are).

New Illinois law guarantees students recess time

Should middle school students get a 30 minute recess?

School-aged kids across California will have a mandatory 30-minute recess break starting with the 2024-25 school year under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law. On school days with early dismissal, students will be entitled to at least a 15-minute recess break.

Is 15 minutes of recess enough?

But studies show that at least 20 minutes of recess daily, along with 150 minutes of physical education a week, make a measurable difference in children's weight. Beyond the physical benefits, recess is important for kids emotionally and cognitively.

Is recess mandatory in Illinois?

This year, that's mandatory in Illinois for kindergarten through 5th grade. “They get 20 minutes outside for recess," she said, "and then throughout the day they get an additional 15 minutes. So actually, we're doing 35 minutes." The 30-minute recess law passed in 2021.

What states is it illegal to withhold recess?

States of Play

At least five have a recess law on the books: Missouri, Florida, New Jersey, and Rhode Island mandate 20 minutes of recess daily for elementary students, while Arizona requires two recess periods without specifying a length.

Can you take recess away as punishment?

Recess should not be withheld as punishment

Recess should be approached with the same importance as other learning opportunities. Alternatives for withholding recess as punishment include: Focus on positive rewards rather than punishment, such as offering extra recess for good behavior.

What states is it illegal to use exercise as punishment?

State boards of education in Hawaii and California prohibit withholding physical activity or using it as punishment. The absence of support for using physical activity as punishment renders its use by a teacher or coach indefensible, from a legal liability standpoint.

Is it illegal to take away recess in Indiana as punishment?

1. Students will not be removed or excused from physical education to receive instruction in other content areas. 2. School staff will not use physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups) or withhold opportunities for physical activity (e.g., recess, physical education) as punishment.

Is taking away recess as punishment for ADHD?

First, kids with ADHD are the kids who need recess the most. Second, taking recess away as punishment is not effective. If the goal is to have a child with ADHD complete their classwork more efficiently, taking away recess will not motivate them to work more quickly.

Can a teacher legally take your phone in Illinois?

A teacher most certainly can confiscate your phone, but they cannot look through it unless you give them consent.

Is skipping school illegal in Illinois?

More than 1 in 5 studentsin Illinois were chronically truant last year. That means they missed over 5% of the year without a valid excuse. It's illegal for Illinois school districts to refer students to local law enforcement to be punished with a fine for truancy.

Can teachers take your phone in Illinois?

Teachers have every right to seize your phone, but they have NO right to go through its contents unless you give them permission. It is illegal for a teacher to go through the private contents of your cellphone without your consent, and it is illegal for them to force you to do it yourself.

Is recess a right or a privilege?

It is not a reward. Children should not have to earn recess, and they should not miss recess as a punishment. Because recess is such a vital part of students' development, taking it away from children makes as much sense as taking away math, reading, or spelling.

How much time should kids get for recess?

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued statements on the importance of school recess (Murray and Ramstetter, 2013, CDC and SHAPE America, 2017) and recommend that all children have 20 min or more of daily recess.

Why is recess a right?

Recess, experts say, is more important than some might think. It is often kids' main source of time to play freely and without structure — something that is crucial to kids' development of social skills, creativity and long term mental health.

Is Illinois the only state that requires PE?

Although many states require P.E., Illinois was the first state in the nation to require daily P.E. for all students. Many schools have designed or adopted model programs to meet this requirement and create opportunities for physical activity.

How many states in the US require recess?

At least five states now have a codified recess law, and seven more —Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Connecticut, and Virginia—require at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity, though it is up to schools to decide how they wish to allocate that time.

What is the Illinois Public Act 102 0357?

The state of Illinois has enacted Public Act 102-0357 in support of play time in Illinois schools. This Public Act, which became effective August 13, 2021, requires that all public schools provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Why should kids have 30 minutes of recess?

Recess benefits students by: Increasing their level of physical activity. Improving their memory, attention, and concentration. Helping them stay on-task in the classroom.

Why should recess be 1 hour long?

Having a long recess period gives students time to engage in creative play, practice life skills, and regulate physical activity.

Should kids have 1 hour of recess?

According to Eric Jensen's book Teaching With the Brain in Mind, "A short recess arouses students and may leave them 'hyper' and less able to concentrate." Children benefit from an extended recess session (approximately an hour in length), because it gives their bodies time to regulate the movement and bring their ...