The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
October 16, 2008
A new report suggests that a number of schools in low-income neighborhoods in Georgia have cut recess to meet educational goals required under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the Macon Telegraph reports. A report released by the Center for Public Education found that, 20 percent of schools cut recess to focus on academic skills following the law's enactment. A survey by the Macon Telegraph found that nine of Bibb county's 26 elementary schools, all located in high-poverty areas, do not offer any recess. Six other schools, all serving low-income and predominantly African-American students, provided 10-minute breaks or recess most days. The remaining 11 schools offer between 15 and 30 minutes of recess time daily. They are mostly located in more affluent communities with greater student diversity, and nearly all met No Child Left Behind goals this past spring.