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Kansas Senate committee hears bill to guarantee 30 minutes of daily recess for K–5 students
Summary
The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on SB 339, which would require school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily recess for kindergarten through fifth grade and designate that time as part of the school term. Supporters cited health and learning benefits; opponents urged preserving local control and flagged operational questions about supervision and instructional time accounting.
Senate Education Committee members on Thursday heard competing views on Senate Bill 339, which would require Kansas school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and designate that time as part of the school term.
The bill’s reviser, Tamara Lawrence, told the committee the legislation would add a new section requiring the 30‑minute minimum, permit recess supervision by licensed or nonlicensed school personnel, and amend KSA 72‑31‑15 so the required recess time is counted as part of the school term; the statute, the reviser said, would take effect July 1 upon publication.
Why it matters: Proponents said the requirement would standardize access to free play across districts and improve student focus, behavior and health. John Maesen, a visiting…
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