Key Points:
•A petition with more than 2,500 signatures had been circulating since August regarding schedule changes.
• Previously, the DeKalb County Schools District mandated 15 minutes of recess/unstructured break time for elementary students.
•The updated recess time will be implemented early next year, officials said Monday.
After a Change.org petition and community appeal, the DeKalb County School District on Oct. 6 made a recommendation to extend recess time for DeKalb County elementary students.
All DeKalb County School District elementary schools will switch to a 30-minute daily recess/unstructured break beginning in January 2026, Jennifer Carraciolo, DCSD interim chief community engagement & innovation partnerships, announced during the board’s work session.
Several audience members applauded as Carraciolo made the announcement. Board members also commended the community engagement team for their response to community concerns about the limited recess time for students.
A group, known as “30 for Recess,” had formed in response to district-wide scheduling changes announced in August that would have eliminated principal-level schedule discretion. A petition, which received more than 2,800 signatures, strongly admonished the school’s superintendent and board for not seeking more parent feedback about those changes. It also demanded a mandate for the 30-minute recess for DeKalb’s elementary students.
“The new schedule for subjects and ELA minutes requirements have made it almost impossible for students to get the recess time they desperately need,” read the petition statement. “Let’s provide our children with the necessary playtime and help foster a balanced educational experience.”
Both Whitney McGinniss, District 2 board member, and Dijon DaCosta, District 6 board member, suggested that an official policy change take place, since only a 15-minute recess is currently mandated.
DaCosta described the decision as one that reflects the “power of the community” who were speaking on behalf of DeKalb County students. He thanked the DCSD community engagement team for working on this matter so quickly, and also advised seeing community momentum behind other pertinent student goals.
“I really would like to see the power of the community to focus on our scholars’ reading, not being able to read on grade level as well, and implementing more time for that as well,” DaCosta said.
School leaders will receive a menu of options to update their master schedules to reflect this adjustment.
“We listened to our community and engaged our community,” Carraciolo said during her presentation. “This menu will provide flexibility, allowing each school to meet the unique needs of its students and communities . . .We would like to thank our stakeholders for bringing this concern forward and working with us to find a solution.”
