Despite widespread concerns about the disappearance of daily recess, a recent federal survey indicates that the majority of elementary schools still provide unstructured playtime for their students. The study, conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, shows that between 83 and 88 percent of elementary schools offer daily recess for students in grades 1 through 6. The survey was based on responses from 1,198 nationally representative schools.

These findings come at a time when parents’ groups and health advocates are worried about schools prioritizing test scores over recess. A survey conducted by the National PTA estimates that almost 40 percent of elementary schools in the United States have removed or are considering eliminating recess time. Charlene R. Burgeson, the executive director of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, suggests that the federal survey may not accurately represent the current state of recess in schools. She believes that recess time may be shortened or taken away from certain students to provide extra tutoring. Unfortunately, the federal study does not provide historical data on the prevalence of recess.

The report, titled "Calories In, Calories Out," is the first from the Education Department to explore snacking and exercise opportunities in schools. The survey was prompted by concerns over the rising obesity rates among 6- to 11-year-olds, which have tripled in the past three decades. Other findings from the study indicate that 7 percent of elementary schools do not offer recess at all. Additionally, the availability of free playtime varies based on socioeconomics, with schools serving predominantly poor children providing less recess time compared to more affluent schools. Furthermore, 94 percent of elementary schools offer snack foods for sale outside of regular lunch periods, with rural schools and schools in the Southeastern states being more likely to have contracts with outside vendors for snack food sales. Around half of the schools surveyed offer non-nutritious items, while healthy options like salad or low-fat milk are more prevalent. However, 15 percent of the schools sold candy, and 38 percent offered high-fat cookies.

The survey was released at the same time that the soft-drink industry committed to voluntarily reducing the sale of sugary beverages in schools due to potential litigation. Advocates are also working towards similar restrictions on the sale of high-calorie and salty snacks in schools. Regarding recess, the study estimates that students’ playtime decreases from an average of 28 minutes a day in 1st grade to 24 minutes in 6th grade. Additionally, 17 to 22 percent of schools provide daily physical education, while over half offer such classes once or twice a week. On average, students get a total of 208 to 222 minutes of physical activity per week through recess and physical education classes. However, both statisticians and health advocates note that these averages fall short of the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise for elementary-school-age children according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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