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Florida Schools Have the Option to Hold Recess Indoors

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TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Many community members are speaking out about recess in elementary schools, and why it's so important to make sure that kids continue to have this time in the Sunshine State.

"I fundamentally believe, after an hour and a half, it's just time to take a break," says Jane Marks, a family therapist. "And during that break, you're more likely to get, as I said before, a reset button. We're able to approach the task from a new angle. Sometimes we have more clarity, and I think the importance of recess for most young children is critical for personal growth and development."

Last Friday, the Florida Department of Education told school superintendents that there's nothing in a new law that indicates where recess has to take place. 

This new law, which was passed earlier this year and goes into effect for the upcoming school year does say that elementary schools are required to have 100 minutes of "free play" every week in addition to the physical education they already receive.

According to this law, free play must be safe, supervised, and unstructured.

Whether recess is outside or inside due to weather, teachers appreciate the option.

"There should be options to have recess indoors or outdoors, depending on the activity, depending on the weather," says Dr <Sarah Price, and associate professor for FAMU's College of Education. "It's been so hot. We've been having rain or inclimate weather almost daily."

The logistics of how recess will be held, either indoors or outside, will be determined by each school district. This includes the location of recess and how it will be held due to certain weather conditions.

WTXL did reach out to Leon and Gadsden County schools to see how this new law could affect their recess time, but as of Wednesday evening, we have yet to hear back.

For more information on this new law, click here.