SB 291: Pupil rights: recess.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to encourage school districts to provide daily recess periods for elementary school pupils. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to authorize a teacher to restrict for disciplinary purposes the time a pupil is allowed for recess.

This bill would delete the latter provision. The bill would require, commencing with the 202425 school year, recess, as defined, that is provided by a public school operated by a school district or county office of education, or that is a charter school, to be at least 30 minutes on regular instructional days and at least 15 minutes on early release days, as provided. The bill would prohibit school staff members from restricting a pupils recess unless there is an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or the physical safety of one or more of the pupils peers, as provided.