(1)(a) Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, public schools, for each school day that exceeds five hours in duration, must provide a minimum of 30 minutes of daily recess within the school day for all students in grades kindergarten through five and students in grade six that attend an elementary school. (b) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may waive the requirement in (a) of this subsection during the 2024-25 school year for public schools demonstrating that they are unable to comply with the requirement. (c) Public schools may provide additional recess before or after the school day, but that time may not be used to meet the requirements of this subsection (1). (d) Time spent changing to and from clothes for outdoor play should not be used to meet the requirements of this subsection (1). (2)(a) Recess must be supervised and student directed and must aim to be safe, inclusive, and high quality as described in the model policy and procedure referenced in RCW 28A.210.368. It may include organized games, but public schools should avoid including, or permitting the student use of, computers, tablets, or phones during recess. (b) Recess should be held outside whenever possible. If recess is held indoors, public schools should use an appropriate space that promotes physical activity. (3) The daily recess required under this section may not be used to meet the physical education requirements under RCW 28A.230.040. (4) For the purposes of this section, "public schools" has the same meaning as in RCW 28A.150.010. [ 2023 c 272 s 2.]
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