School Recess – A Local Look

When you were in grade school, what was your favorite period?

If you said recess (also known as unstructured play time) you might be surprised to know that  your favorite part of the school day is an endangered species in today’s world crowded curriculums. 

An article in Thursday’s American-Statesman bemoans the fact that up to 20 percent of Austin ISD students won’t get at least 20 minutes of recess per day during the 2017-18 school year.

But most Fayette County grade schools students still manage to get some unstructured play time every day. 

Here’s how it breaks out:

• In La Grange ISD, according to Superintendent Bill Wagner, PreK-Grade 2 kids get 30 minutes a day of unstructured play; Grade 3 gets 20 minutes; Grades 4-6 get 15 minutes. That’s in addition to the state-mandated minimum of 135 minutes of physical education per week, Wagner said.

• At Flatonia ISD, recess is built into Pre-K through grade 5 as a 20 lunch period plus 10 minute recess every day.

• Round Top ISD provides recess for Pre-K through Grade 2 every day according to Superintendent Adren Pilger.

• Schulenburg ISD students get 20-30 minutes of recess in grades Pre-K- grade 3 daily; 4th graders get recess occasionally based on incentives; 5th graders do not get recess

(The state mandates all students receive at least 135 minutes of structured physical education per week.)