Recess Requirements for Middle School Students

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and official text do not specify enforcement or monitoring details.

Recess Requirements for Middle School Students

The bill requires district school boards to provide at least 100 minutes of free-play recess each week for students in grades 6 through 8.

What This Bill Does

• Requires district school boards to provide at least 100 minutes of free-play recess every week for middle school students.
• Ensures there are at least 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day for these students.

Who It Names or Affects

• Middle school students in grades 6 through 8
• District school boards

Terms To Know

Free-play recess

Unstructured playtime during the school day where students can choose their activities.

Charter schools

Public schools that are independently run but receive public funding and must follow certain state regulations.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not apply to charter schools.
• It is unclear how the requirement will be enforced or monitored by district school boards.

Official Summary Text

Recess Requirements for Middle School Students; Requires district school boards to provide specified amount of free-play recess each week to students in grades 6 through 8.

Current Bill Text

HB 1149 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1149-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to recess requirements for middle 2
school students; amending s. 1003.455, F.S.; requiring 3
district school boards to provide a specified amount 4
of free-play recess each week to students in grades 6 5
through 8; providing an effective date. 6
7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
9
Section 1. Section 1003.455, Florida Statutes, is amended 10
to read: 11
1003.455 Physical education; assessment.— 12
(6) In addition to the requirements in subsection (3), 13
each district school board shall provide at least 100 minutes of 14
supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week 15
for students in kindergarten through grade 8 5 so that there are 16
at least 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day. 17
This requirement does not apply to charter schools. 18
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 19