A National Call for Mandatory Recess for All K8 Students

The Honorable Linda McMahon
Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20202

We, Freedom In Education, write with a unified and uplifting message: let our children play. We urge the U.S. Department of Education to issue a national call encouraging all states to implement mandatory daily recess for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The benefits are indisputable and long overdue for universal recognition in our schools. 

Recess isn’t optional. It is a foundational, evidence-based tool for student well-being, behavior, and brain development. Research shows that unstructured play improves executive functioning, supports healthy brain maturation, and enhances students’ ability to focus and absorb academic instruction. Physically, children who move are healthier and show stronger cardiovascular and muscular development. Mentally and emotionally, recess reduces anxiety, supports emotional regulation, and fosters genuine social development, something no curriculum can artificially replicate. 

Many schools have been pressured to invest in commercial Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs that cost millions of dollars and yield little to no measurable improvement in student behavior, mental health, or peer relationships. Meanwhile, we’ve overlooked the most powerful and low-cost intervention available: time to play, laugh, run, and reset. Recess doesn’t require a vendor contract. It simply requires the courage to do what is best for children. 

We believe this small shift can make a massive difference. We encourage your leadership in spotlighting the role of recess in supporting the whole child and helping districts refocus their resources on what truly works. We are grateful for your commitment to our nation’s children and respectfully offer our partnership to promote this important and joyful reform.

Sincerely, 

Melissa Jackson 

President, Freedom in Education