In October 2015, RIDE issued a public notice of proposed revisions to Regulations Governing the School Calendar and Length of the School Day, which can be read here.

As proposed, the regulations require 5.5 hours of instructional time per school day, but no mention or consideration is given for free play, recess, or lunch time.  By default, then, non-instructional time would include recess, lunch and transitional time. 

As more and more pressure is put on elementary school learners to achieve academically, many families have reported a reduction in recess and lunch times, or note that these times are shortened so that rather than having 30 minutes to play, kids have 20, with five minutes to transition from classroom to the playground and back.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued this statement regarding the need for elementary school students to have free play time for health and well being: "The AAP believes that recess is a crucial and necessary component of a child's development."

By signing this petition, you are asking the Commissioner of Education and the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education to recognize and protect recess as the crucial components it is, particularly as it relates to elementary school students by including specific guidelines for recess in the regulations for school days.