Overview

• District officials announced the change at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, requiring schools to implement 30 minutes of daily recess by January 2026 with scheduling options provided.
• Many elementary schools had shortened recess to about 15 minutes at the start of the school year to create time for two hours of daily literacy instruction.
• After parent feedback, leaders formed a committee to examine unstructured break time and used its findings to set a uniform 30-minute standard.
• Superintendent Devon Horton told families the decision reflects the importance of physical activity and mental breaks in supporting student success.
• Georgia law requires daily recess for kindergarten through fifth grade but leaves the length and timing to local boards, giving DeKalb authority to set the new standard.