Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Ed Code 49056 mandates specific guidelines for public elementary schools regarding recess provisions. The primary focus is on ensuring students’ access to safe, unstructured time, emphasizing restorative approaches, and limiting the use of recess denial as a disciplinary measure.
The graphic below outlines the updates to recess policy and the compliant alternatives to denying access to recess. It is important to note that staff may only deny recess if a student poses an immediate threat to their own or other’s safety.
