OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma elementary students will soon spend more time on the playground.
Earlier this week, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1481 into law, doubling the minimum daily recess requirement for public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Starting next school year, the new law requires public schools to provide at least 40 minutes of daily recess for K-5 students, up from the current 20-minute minimum. It also prohibits schools from taking away recess as punishment, a disciplinary practice some educators have used.
Supporters say the additional unstructured play time can help students improve focus, social development and classroom performance once they return inside. Oklahoma Sen. Ally Seifried, the bill’s author, said the change is intended to support both learning and mental health.
“So recess is really important. Of course, we think of it as play, but it also has many health benefits, many mental health benefits. You learn conflict resolution. You learn how to play with your friends. But it really gives them that mental break so that then when they come back into the classroom, they can fully be focused,” Seifried said.
Parents and pediatric experts also point to potential benefits, including reduced stress, improved behavior and more physical activity during the school day. Experts say students who struggle most with behavior may be the ones who need recess the most.
“We see some behavior issues and it feels like the recess is taken away from them and they are the ones that need it more than ever so I love that they paid attention to that to so those kids that need to move that need to wiggle can’t lose recess,” said Kendra Morgan, a child development specialist and founder of Building All Children.
School leaders, however, will have to determine how to fit the additional recess time into the school day without cutting into instruction time. Districts including Oklahoma City, Edmond and Moore public schools are expected to spend the next several months preparing for the new requirement before it takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
While supporters describe the change as a win for students, school leaders still face the challenge of balancing more recess with already tight academic schedules and staffing shortages.
