Recess Unstructured Breaks Oct. BOE Presentation

Update on
Recess/Unstructured Break Time
Jennifer Caracciolo,
Interim Chief of Community Engagement and Innovative Partnerships
  Communication from Superintendent Horton
                                                         August 15, 2025                                                            September 8, 2025
Dear DCSD Elementary Parents/Guardians,                                      The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) recognizes the vital role
                                                                             that a healthy balance of physical activity and mental breaks plays in
As we wrap up the second week of school, I want to thank you for your
                                                                             helping students succeed, both in school and in life. To address this
patience, support, and commitment as we settle into the rhythm of a
new school year. I also want to follow up on the topic of recess and         topic, we are organizing a TregoED meeting in September. TregoEd is
unstructured break time. We recognize the vital role that a healthy          a conflict-resolution process we use in DCSD, led by a trained
balance of physical activity and mental breaks plays in helping              facilitator. It brings together a variety of stakeholders for an intensive,
students succeed, both in school and in life.                                four-hour, solution-focused discussion.
To address this topic, I have organized a TregoEd meeting in
                                                                             If you are interested in participating, please complete the form above.
September. TregoEd is a conflict-resolution process we use in DCSD,
led by a trained facilitator. It brings together a variety of stakeholders   Once this process is complete, we will share our plan and next steps
for an intensive, four-hour, solution-focused discussion.                    with you. Your partnership is valued, and we look forward to working
                                                                             together to support all students.
Once this process is complete, we will share our plan and next steps
with you. Your partnership is valued, and I look forward to working          Note: Input collected at BOE Public Participation on September 8
together to make this school year an incredible one for our students.
                                                                             and at the Superintendent’s Bilingual Parent Advisory Council on
                                                                             September 9.
Note: Input collected at BOE Public Participation on August 11 and
                                                                             Over 400 individuals applied for the TregoED, which consisted of 3
at the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council on August 19.
                                                                             parents, 3 teachers, 3 principals, and 3 district staff from across
                                                                             the county.
Communication from Superintendent Horton
                                                                                  September 29, 2025
 Last week parents, teachers, principals, and district leaders from the DeKalb County School District
 (DCSD) met to discuss the community’s request to extend the minimum time for recess, also called
 Unstructured Break Time (UBT). Using the TREGO-ED problem-solving process, the group focused on
 this guiding question: "How can DCSD honor the request to increase the minimum UBT time while
 supporting academics, required instructional minutes, and student social emotional growth?"
 The meeting ended with shared recommendations including:
 •   Conduct Stakeholder Surveys
 •   Implement a Pilot Program
 •   Establish a Common Definition of UBT
 •   Re-evaluate the Master Schedule for Flexibility
 These recommendations will be shared with district leadership and principals over the next two weeks
 and presented to the Board of Education on October 6. All stakeholders are invited to watch the Board
 meeting on DSTV.
The Work of the TregoED
In alignment with DCSD Strategic Plan Goal Area Two: School, Family, and Community Engagement, DCSD
recently hosted a TregoED session with a variety of stakeholders based on concerns related to
recess/unstructured break time.

After an initial brainstorming session where participants raised questions about the cost, research basis, and
scheduling impact, the group engaged in a detailed discussion to synthesize these concerns into a single,
actionable question. The final, agreed-upon question that framed the remainder of the session was: How can
DCSD honor the request to increase the minimum UBT time while supporting academics, required
instructional minutes, and student social emotional growth?
Issues discussed included:                         The meeting ended with shared recommendations including:
• Student Well-being and Performance               • Conduct Stakeholder Surveys
• Logistical and Curricular Constraints            • Implement a Pilot Program
• Equity and Standardization                       • Establish a Common Definition of UBT
• Definition and Parameters of UBT                 • Re-evaluate the Master Schedule for Flexibility
• Research and Data
I




      Moving Forward
       Based on school and community feedback and findings from TregoED,
        all DCSD elementary schools will implement a 30-minute daily
               recess/unstructured break time by January 2026.

     School leaders will receive a menu of options to update their master schedules to reflect
    this adjustment. Schools are encouraged to work collaboratively with staff and families to
       determine the changes that best support students. This menu will provide flexibility,
          allowing each school to meet the unique needs of its students and community.

          We thank our stakeholders for bringing this concern forward and for working
                           collaboratively with us to find a solution.