Recess is more than just a break—it is a critical part of the school day that supports student learning, social-emotional development, and overall well-being. With Tennessee’s new 40-minute unstructured play requirement, school leaders are tasked with reimagining how to integrate, supervise, and maximize the benefits of daily recess.

This four-hour TASL-approved virtual event will bring together principals, assistant principals, and supervisors from across the state to explore best practices for scheduling, monitoring, and encouraging meaningful free play. Participants will hear from state and district leaders who are successfully implementing innovative recess strategies, balancing student safety with autonomy, and fostering a positive school culture.

Attendees will leave with practical tools, scheduling models, and leadership insights to ensure recess is safe, equitable, and beneficial for all students. This event will feature facilitated small group discussions to share ideas, so please make every effort to log in to this ZOOM meeting with a camera and microphone that will allow you to access the important discussions.

This training aligns with New Legal Standards: Tennessee’s newly enacted law now mandates 40 minutes of daily unstructured play for K–5 students—making it essential that school leaders are equipped to implement it effectively.  It also supports Holistic Student Development: Free play isn’t optional; it’s integral to nurturing cognitive function, mental health, behavior, and social-emotional learning.

Finally, we will discuss how this new law empowers leaders to drive change and how administrators play a pivotal role in institutionalizing quality recess policies—scheduling, monitoring, and encouraging play to foster safer, more equitable, and productive school environments

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***