Bringing Recess to More Children Across the Country

On December 15, 2025, researchers, educators, and policymakers gathered at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., to focus on recess.  

Convened by Erin Hager, a professor in the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, and Rachel Deitch, a program officer in the same department, the event served as the launching pad for the “Play, Policy, and Potential Policy Toolkit to Support Advancing Recess in Schools Through State Laws,” and made a compelling case that recess enhances learning. 

The conversation was grounded in history. In the early 20th century, unstructured play was widely understood as central to children’s physical, social, and emotional development. That understanding began to erode over time, particularly with the passage of No Child Left Behind, a 2001 federal policy that mandated standardized testing in reading and math. As a result, many schools narrowed their focus to standardized test performance. As instructional time expanded, recess was often reduced or eliminated altogether.  

The consequences of that shift are now clear. Today, only 12 states and Washington D.C. have formal recess policies in place that require students to have unstructured play, and nearly all of those policies exclude middle school students. At the same time, children are spending close to 50 hours a week in school or completing school-related work. Removing recess from that schedule takes away one of the few dedicated opportunities children have to build social skills, resolve conflict, and practice independence.  

During a panel discussion, DC Council Member Zachary Parker underscored this point. “Recess can teach you problem resolution, key communication skills, and so much more,” he said. “We need to make sure kids get this opportunity to learn and grow outside of the classroom.” 

The Play, Policy, and Potential Policy Package, supported by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, was designed to help advance concrete policies that protect recess in schools. This policy toolkit combines practical, evidence-based tools to help states introduce and pass recess laws. It also includes state-specific fact sheets that outline essential components of a recess law and how to strengthen them. It also provides draft legislation and ready-to-use advocacy emails, lowering the barrier for policymakers and advocates who want to act but may not know where to begin. 

Former California State Senator Josh Newman, who attended the event, reflected on the challenges of implementation. “Schools with the biggest challenges, be it funding or staffing issues, continue to have significant challenges implementing bills [focused on increasing access to recess], ” he noted, “but having legislative sponsors who care deeply can help make a difference and ensure students don’t get lost in the shuffle.” 

The policy toolkit shows how states and advocates can move toward a future that values play, protects recess, and recognizes that supporting children’s well-being is inseparable from their learning.