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A new proposal in the Kansas Legislature aims to ensure young students get regular playtime during the school day by requiring daily recess for elementary school students.

Senate Bill 339, introduced by the Senate Committee on Education, would require all Kansas school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily organized recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade on days when the school day exceeds five hours. The bill also designates that recess time as part of the official school term. Lawmakers included language suggesting districts should strive to offer 60 minutes of recess each day and that supervised recess could be overseen by either licensed or unlicensed school personnel.

Under current statute, school terms are defined by the number of days or hours students spend in instructional time. The bill would amend existing law to explicitly include recess as part of that required school term.

Supporters of the bill argue that structured daily recess promotes physical activity, supports mental well‑being, and enhances overall learning for young students. Opponents could raise concerns about scheduling challenges or classroom time lost to non‑instructional activities as the measure makes its way through committee. The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee after its introduction.