OKCPS Adjusts School Day Schedule to Meet New State Recess Requirements

Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) will implement a slight adjustment to school day schedules for the 2026-2027 school year to comply with new state legislation requiring additional daily recess time for elementary students.

Under Senate Bill 1481, all students in Kindergarten through fifth grade must receive at least 40 minutes of supervised, unstructured recess each school day, an increase from the previous 20-minute requirement. The law also prohibits recess from being withheld as a form of discipline.

To meet the new requirement while preserving valuable instructional time, OKCPS has updated school start and dismissal times for the upcoming school year.

Research consistently shows that regular opportunities for play and physical activity support students' physical health, social-emotional development and academic success. By incorporating additional recess into the school day, OKCPS aims to comply with state law while continuing to support student learning and the district's goals of improving reading and math achievement.

Families will receive additional information from their child's school regarding daily schedules, arrival and dismissal procedures, and before- and after-school care options before the start of the school year.

For more information, families are encouraged to contact their child's school.