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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 346 FILED ON: 1/12/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 417
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to recess for elementary and middle school students.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and NorfolkAngelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/28/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/30/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/30/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/7/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/12/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/20/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/28/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 346 FILED ON: 1/12/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 417
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 417) of Patrick M. O'Connor,
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Joanne M. Comerford, Vanna Howard and other members of the General
Court for legislation relative to mandatory recess for elementary and middle school students.
Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to recess for elementary and middle school students.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 3 the
2following new section:-
3 Section 3A. (a) Except as otherwise herein provided, all students in grades kindergarten
4through eight attending a public or charter school in the commonwealth shall receive at least
5thirty consecutive minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess per school day
6which shall be held outdoors whenever the weather and air quality permits. If recess is held
7indoors due to weather or air quality, a public or charter school shall use an appropriate space
8that promotes physical activity. As used herein, the term "free-play recess" shall mean an
9unstructured environment that is supervised by appropriate school personnel or staff.
10 (b) No public or charter school serving students in grades kindergarten through eight
11shall decrease the amount of time it allots and provides to students for free-play recess as a result 2 of 2
12of any changes in standards or curriculum that the school is required to or chooses to adopt and
13shall not withhold recess for the purposes of providing academic or other services under an
14individualized education plan, 504 or other student support service, including the completion of
15ordinary classroom work. The department shall not exclude recess from structured learning time
16requirements for students in grades kindergarten through eight and shall not increase the total
17number of hours required in the school year to meet the provisions of this section.
18 (c) A public or charter school serving students in grades kindergarten through eight may
19provide less than thirty consecutive minutes of free-play recess on school days with delayed
20openings, early dismissals or other schedule changes that result in a school day that is shorter
21than a standard day in said public or charter school. The requirements of this section shall not
22apply to school days in which there is a field trip.