We, the undersigned parents, educators, and community members of Long Beach, NY, are calling upon the Long Beach School District to take immediate action to:

1. Restore consistent, daily unstructured recess for all elementary students, and
2. Comply with the New York State Education Department’s mandate requiring a minimum of 120 minutes per week of structured physical education (PE), exclusive of recess time. 


Why This Matters


Currently, Long Beach elementary schools are not in compliance with NYSED guidelines. Many students receive physical education only once every six days, far below the required 120 minutes per week. Additionally, recess time—an essential part of childhood development—is being inaccurately categorized as part of the mandated PE time, a practice that does not align with either the letter or spirit of the law.

Recess and physical education serve different purposes and must be preserved independently. Recess supports social-emotional learning, executive functioning, and stress relief; physical education provides instruction in movement, teamwork, and lifelong fitness skills. Our district is currently shortchanging students on both.  

The Law: NYSED Regulations on Physical Education


Per 8 NYCRR §135.4 of the New York State Education Department regulations:

• Grades K–3: Students must participate in physical education daily.
• Grades 4–6: Students must participate in physical education at least three times per week.
• All K–6 students: Must receive a minimum of 120 minutes of physical education per calendar week, exclusive of dressing and showering time.

These minutes cannot be substituted or satisfied by recess, lunch, or classroom movement breaks. PE must be a structured instructional program that aligns with state learning standards and is taught by appropriately certified educators.

Source: NYSED Physical Education FAQ  

International Best Practice: Finland as a Model


Countries like Finland, known for both academic excellence and student well-being, provide students with 15-minute outdoor breaks after every 45 minutes of instruction. Their education system shows that time outdoors and time to move are not distractions from learning—they are catalysts for it. Physical activity supports attention, memory, and mood regulation.  

What the Research Says


Research shows that:

• Unstructured play is linked to improved creativity, collaboration, and conflict resolution.
• Daily physical activity helps students focus, manage emotions, and perform better academically.
• Studies show that replacing academic time with physical activity does not harm test scores—and it can improve them.  

What We’re Asking


We respectfully demand that the Long Beach School District:

• Acknowledge that recess and PE are not interchangeable, and ensure both are implemented as intended.
• Provide daily unstructured recess, separate from PE, for all elementary students.
• Immediately comply with NYSED’s mandate of 120 minutes/week of physical education for grades K–6.

The structuring of the WINGS period—originally introduced to provide both remediation and enrichment—demonstrates the district’s creativity and flexibility in meeting student needs. This dedicated time within the school day presents an opportunity to explore how we can further support the whole child, including their physical and emotional well-being.

Our children deserve a school day that supports their whole development—cognitive, physical, and emotional. We urge the district to align with best practices, legal standards, and the science of how children learn and thrive.

Sign below to show your support for a healthier, more balanced school experience.