Breaking: Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.’s season is over; he’ll have surgery to repair partially torn ACL
Politics
Politics

Bill would mandate kids get daily recess

Settles Bridge Elementary in Suwanee held a ribbon cutting ceremony for new playground equipment at the school.

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Settles Bridge Elementary in Suwanee held a ribbon cutting ceremony for new playground equipment at the school.
By Aaron Gould Sheinin
Feb 8, 2017

Rep. Demetrius Douglas might be Georgia children's favorite lawmaker.

The Stockbridge Democrat on Wednesday filed legislation that would require schools in Georgia to offer at least 30 minutes of “supervised, unstructured activity time,” a day for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

House Bill 273 says that recess should be outside if possible and that taking away recess cannot be used to punish students.

The bill has bipartisan support, including Democrats Rep. Stacey Evans, D-Smrya, and Spencer Frye of Athens, and Republican Reps. Ed Setzler of Acworth, and Brian Strickland of McDonough.

This is not Douglas' first attempt at getting schools to offer daily recess. In 2016 he sponsored a resolution urging schools to do so. That resolution, which does not carry the power of law, passed easily.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will again have Georgia’s largest team covering the Legislature. Get complete daily coverage during the legislative session at myAJC.com/georgialegislature.

Related
Placeholder Image
VIDEO: Legislative 101 - What’s the fate of various education bills in Georgia?

About the Author

Aaron Gould Sheinin
More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks alongside then former president and presidential hopeful Donald Trump at a campaign event in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

OPINION

Marjorie Taylor Greene or Trump: Who gets MAGA in the divorce?

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s battles with the president test her base at home in Georgia's 14th Congressional District.

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Two Democrats are top voter getters, headed to runoff in Georgia Senate special election for metro Atlanta seat.

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

The tally marked a dramatic reversal for GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill and a stinging rebuke for Trump, who had furiously tried to block the move.

The Latest

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks alongside then former president and presidential hopeful Donald Trump at a campaign event in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

OPINION

Marjorie Taylor Greene or Trump: Who gets MAGA in the divorce?

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

Featured

Rose Scott signals as "Closer Look" goes on the air in the WABE studio. An Atlanta resident left WABE a $3 million donation, a boost after WABE lost $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. (Ben Gray for the AJC 2023)

Credit: Ben Gray

Donor leaves WABE $3 million, largest individual gift in station’s history

An Atlanta resident has bequeathed WABE a $3 million donation, the largest one-time individual donation in the nonprofit media operation’s 76-year history.

Usher sues business partners over failed Buckhead restaurant plan

Atlanta singer Usher wants his money back after loaning $1.7 million to music producer Bryan-Michael Cox and others to buy a Buckhead restaurant property for $6.3 million.

Braves’ original ‘Freeze’ is retired. But you probably still can’t catch him.

As the Atlanta Braves prepare to find their next sprinting mascot, Nigel Talton is enjoying his new career coaching high school athletes at McEachern High.