Tennessee Lawmaker Wants To Repeal and Replace Recess Requirement

NASHVILLE, TN — Less than a year after it went into effect, a Knoxville legislator wants to repeal — and perhaps replace — Tennessee's school recess requirement. Rep. Bill Dunn, a Republican, told The Tennessean teachers and administrators find the bill to be onerous and a "scheduling nightmare."

After an amendment that passed the General Assembly last year, current Tennessee law requires kindergarteners and first-graders be afforded three 15-minute periods of "non-structured physical activity" daily, two 20-minute periods at least four days a week of the same for second through sixth graders, and 90 minutes of physical activity per week for seventh through 12th graders. The law defines non-structured physical activity as "a temporary withdrawal or cessation from usual school work or sedentary activities during which an opportunity for rigorous physical activity is provided" and prohibits walking to and from class as counting towards the requirement.

Dunn's bill would completely delete the recess portion of the state code.

"What I am doing is bringing a bill to repeal and then someone can come along behind that to deal with physical activity," Dunn told The Tennessean. "I want to repeal to relieve the burden of teachers and then how to fix it can be a topic of discussion."

The change passed both chambers of the legislature overwhelmingly last year: unanimously in the Senate and with only two no votes in the House. Dunn voted for the bill.

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