Trustees approve mandatory recess at all elementary schools

All elementary schools are now required to offer daily recess for students in preK–fifth grade following a policy change approved by trustees last week.

The policy change requires elementary schools for the rest of the school year to offer at least 20 minutes of daily recess for all students. Starting next school year, elementary schools will be required to offer at least 30 minutes of daily recess.

Trustee Dan Micciche, who proposed the policy change, said during a December board briefing that research shows the positive benefits of recess for young students. While many Dallas ISD elementary schools have daily recess, it was not required by district policy. The policy change also does not allow teachers to withhold recess from students as punishment for low-level infractions.