Say YES to RECESS Maryland
The Issue
We are Say Yes to Recess Maryland, part of a growing national movement of parents, educators, and community members working to restore and protect developmentally appropriate recess for every child.
We are calling on Maryland policymakers to guarantee elementary students two separate 30-minute recess periods every school day — 60 minutes of daily recess.
Why two recess periods?
Children are not designed to sit for long stretches of the school day. Recess gives students an essential opportunity for unstructured play, physical activity, creativity, social connection, and independence.
Research consistently supports the role of recess in children’s physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being. When children have opportunities to move and play throughout the day, they can return to the classroom better prepared to focus and learn.
And one short break in an entire school day is not enough.
Two separate recess periods help break up long periods of instruction and give children meaningful opportunities to reset in both the morning and afternoon.
We are asking Maryland to:
Guarantee elementary students two separate 30-minute recess periods every school day, for a total of 60 minutes.
Ensure recess is unstructured, screen free and outdoors (weather and safety permitting).
Protect recess from being routinely withheld for punishment, unfinished schoolwork, or additional academic instruction.
Provide safe, inclusive, and accessible recess opportunities for all students.
Establish consistent statewide protections so a child’s access to play does not depend on their school, district, or ZIP code.
Recess is not a reward. It is an essential part of a healthy, developmentally appropriate school day. Play is learning!
Maryland has an opportunity to lead by recognizing that children learn best when their need for movement, play, connection, and breaks is respected.
Sign this petition and join Say Yes to Recess Maryland in calling for two 30-minute recess periods every day.
Our kids deserve more than a few minutes to be kids.
Two recesses. 30 minutes each. Every child. Every day.
Say YES to recess.
1,316
The Issue
We are Say Yes to Recess Maryland, part of a growing national movement of parents, educators, and community members working to restore and protect developmentally appropriate recess for every child.
We are calling on Maryland policymakers to guarantee elementary students two separate 30-minute recess periods every school day — 60 minutes of daily recess.
Why two recess periods?
Children are not designed to sit for long stretches of the school day. Recess gives students an essential opportunity for unstructured play, physical activity, creativity, social connection, and independence.
Research consistently supports the role of recess in children’s physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being. When children have opportunities to move and play throughout the day, they can return to the classroom better prepared to focus and learn.
And one short break in an entire school day is not enough.
Two separate recess periods help break up long periods of instruction and give children meaningful opportunities to reset in both the morning and afternoon.
We are asking Maryland to:
Guarantee elementary students two separate 30-minute recess periods every school day, for a total of 60 minutes.
Ensure recess is unstructured, screen free and outdoors (weather and safety permitting).
Protect recess from being routinely withheld for punishment, unfinished schoolwork, or additional academic instruction.
Provide safe, inclusive, and accessible recess opportunities for all students.
Establish consistent statewide protections so a child’s access to play does not depend on their school, district, or ZIP code.
Recess is not a reward. It is an essential part of a healthy, developmentally appropriate school day. Play is learning!
Maryland has an opportunity to lead by recognizing that children learn best when their need for movement, play, connection, and breaks is respected.
Sign this petition and join Say Yes to Recess Maryland in calling for two 30-minute recess periods every day.
Our kids deserve more than a few minutes to be kids.
Two recesses. 30 minutes each. Every child. Every day.
Say YES to recess.
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Petition created on September 18, 2026