H.R. 472·Elementary Intermediate
A Bill to Prohibit Withholding Recess as Punishment
Rep. Tate (D-AL)
Federally funded elementary schools cannot use recess loss as a punishment.
Sec. 1 — Mandate
Public elementary schools receiving federal funds shall not withhold recess as disciplinary punishment.
Sec. 2 — Exception
Brief safety-related timeouts during recess are permitted.
Sec. 3 — Funding
$3 million for teacher discipline training.
Sec. 4 — Enforcement
Civil rights complaints route through the Department of Education.
Tournament Prep
Mechanical parts, sourced & timed
Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.
- Bill / Number
- H.R. 472 — A Bill to Prohibit Withholding Recess as Punishment
- Funding source
- $3M for restorative-practice teacher training.
- Timeline
- Effective immediately.
- Realistic — policy change.
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
- Yes — OCR already investigates discipline disparities.
- Penalty for non-compliance
- Title VI/Title I corrective action.
- Source citation
- AAP (2013), 'The Crucial Role of Recess in School' — pediatrics.aappublications.org.
- Delivery time (read aloud)
- 50s
Strongest counter-argument
Removing this tool ties teachers' hands without giving them alternatives.
Your pre-emptive answer
Sec. 2 funds restorative-practice training precisely because we're not leaving teachers without tools. Withholding physical activity from a child with behavior issues is the opposite of what AAP recommends.