NJ Senate Panel Advances Bill Requiring Recess

A New Jersey legislative committee has pushed forward a bill that would require all New Jersey students in kindergarten through fifth grade to get at least 20 minutes of recess each day.

Under the bill, recess could not be denied as punishment.

The measure was supported unanimously by the state Senate's Education Committee on Thursday.

It now moves to a vote of the full Senate. No Assembly version has been introduced.

Sen. Shirley Turner has introduced a similar bill for three consecutive legislative terms.

She cites studies that have found students do better when they have recess and also says that playtime can help combat obesity.

Some schools have eliminated recess to focus on meeting academic standards.

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