Recess at most Metro elementary schools only 15 minutes, audit finds

All Metro Nashville elementary schools offer recess in some form or fashion — but it is limited to just 15 minutes a day at most of them.

These and other findings came out of a recently completed audit on recess time conducted by Metro Nashville Public Schools officials at the request of school board members in July.

Board member Amy Frogge has suggested the district adopt 20 minutes of daily recess. Tennessee law requires at least 90 minutes of physical activity in each week of school, but that can include physical education classes in addition to recess, which is considered unrestricted free play that is usually outdoors.

“Most research indicates that young children need at least 20 minutes of recess time,” Frogge said. “We need to increase recess time across the district for healthy child development and social-emotional learning.

“Our audit clearly shows that the majority of MNPS elementary students do not receive the recommended 20 minutes or more of daily recess.”

Frogge has argued that an era of state-mandated standardized tests has pushed aside recess, arts and other non-tested courses and other areas at many districts, including MNPS. She’s asked for another audit on recess time at middle schools and wants a task force to review the final report when it is finished.

There’s widespread variation at the elementary level.

At 11 MNPS elementary schools, recess is not part of daily schedules, the audit found, though it is “at the discretion of the teacher.” These include schools in Madison, East Nashville, the Nolensville Pike area and North Nashville.

Sixty-two out of 73 elementary schools, meanwhile, offer recess that is built into their daily schedules.

Three of them, though — Glencliff, Jones and Harpeth Valley elementary schools — offer recess on days when children do not take P.E. classes.

The National Association of Sports and Physical Education recommends that young children spend 155 minutes a week in school taking part in physical activity, which could include physical education or recess. The group has suggested at least 20 minutes a day of recess alone and one hour of combined activity, in school and out of school.

While 63 percent of schools — 46 overall — reported that recess lasts only 15 minutes, 23 percent said it spans between 20 and 25 minutes and 14 percent said it runs between 15 and 20 minutes. Frogge noted, though, that time it takes for teachers to escort students to and from recess takes away a chunk of those minutes.

Despite her concerns, which are shared by board ally Jill Speering, Metro schools spokesman Joe Bass said there are no immediate plans to change MNPS’ recess policy, noting that most schools have it carved into their main schedules.

“We really want to maximize learning, but we recognize the importance of breaks and play also, which is why every elementary school does it,” Bass said.

“If something outrageous comes out of the middle school audit, then who’s to say what might be done with that? But right now, there’s no plans to change anything.”

Frogge countered by saying this is a “simple problem with a simple solution” and that her 20-minute recess recommendation has seemingly “fallen into a bureaucratic black hole.”

“This is why parents leave MNPS,” she said.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.

How long is recess at Metro Nashville elementary schools?

• 63% of schools reported 15 minutes (46 schools)

• 14% of schools reported a range of 15-20 minutes (10 schools)

• 23% of schools reported a range of 20-25 minutes (17 schools)

Where does the time go?

At typical MNPS elementary schools:

• Literacy — 29 percent

• Math — 14 percent

• Related arts — 14 percent

• Intervention (RTI2), a new state requirement — 14 percent

• Sciences/social studies — 11 percent

• Lunch — 7 percent

• Breakfast — 7 percent

• Recess — 4 percent

Teachers’ choice

MNPS elementary schools where recess is up to the discretion of teachers:

• Chadwell

• Stratton

• Neely’s Bend

• Granbery

• Hull-Jackson

• Glenn

• Mt. View

• Una

• Jones

• Tom Joy

• Amqui