Denying My Son Recess
“My son’s teacher denies him recess every time he acts up in the classroom. Isn’t he supposed to have full access to the school curriculum, no matter what his behavior is like? Do I have a case?”
It isn’t illegal to deny a student recess when he acts up in the classroom. However, kids with ADHD need exercise to help them focus and calm down.
Get documentation about the need for physical activity from your son’s doctor, and request, in writing, an immediate IEP or 504 meeting. Ask the school to perform a functional behavioral assessment of your son and to develop a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP). Stress that this is not to exempt him from punishment, but to prevent the behavior from escalating into a meltdown. If punishment is necessary, ask that your son be given after-school detention instead.
