OUR WASHINGTON STATE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Ensure daily scheduled recess for grades K-5 that is, whenever possible, child-directed and outdoors.
Ensure minimum 45 minutes of recess daily for grades K-5, in addition to P.E.
Ban withholding recess for academic reasons or for punishment.
Ban using physical activity as punishment i .e. running laps or doing push-ups.
Ensure elementary schools schedule recess before lunch.
Direct the Washington State School Directors Association to establish a model policy that
- Aims to make elementary school recess safe, inclusive and high quality for all students, and
- Promotes physical activity breaks for middle and high school students.