California is among nearly half of U.S. states that require recess or other physical activity by law.

Why it matters: Yes, recess is literally child's play. But researchers, pediatricians and parents say it's crucial for young students' physical and mental health.

Zoom in: A recent state law set a strict definition of what's considered recess, and sitting to watch a movie doesn't count, Josh Newman, the former state senator who wrote the law, tells Axios.

• But we reported last year many schools still show movies when it rains.

By the numbers: As of December, school recess is mandated in 12 states and D.C., and laws requiring physical activity exist in 12 states, according to Johns Hopkins research.

• But physical activity and P.E. laws don't necessarily require free play, which advocates say is a daily necessity for kids.

The big picture: Unstructured play doesn't just teach social skills, but research connects it to increased classroom motivation and behavior, better school attendance, and less stress for students.

• And more physical activity could help academic performance.
• Researchers also found quality recess may help school attendance.

What they're saying: "Recess gives you a better feeling about school. Recess refreshes you. Recess helps you feel a little bit less cynical about what's going on," psychologist Peter Gray, author of forthcoming "Restoring Childhood," tells Axios.

• "Anyone who's ever spent even a day with a kid can recognize that if you kept them sitting all day, they'd go insane, they'd drive everybody else insane," says Hannah Thompson, a physical activity epidemiologist with UC Berkeley's Nutrition Policy Institute.

Catch up quick: From 2001 to 2019, weekly recess time in U.S. schools dropped by 60 minutes, education consulting company EAB found.

• One oft-cited factor for the decline: The signing of "No Child Left Behind" in 2002, which led to more time focused on reading, math and school testing — and less on recess.

The high-end, AI-powered private school Alpha Schools is opening a campus in La Jolla, a school spokesperson tells Axios.

Why it matters: While traditional schools navigate how to adopt AI, Alpha Schools has created an AI-dependent classroom model that the company claims reduces screen time and increases human interaction.

• Tuition costs $45,000 to $75,000 a year.

State of play: Alpha La Jolla will start with 25 founding families, spokesperson Sofia Swanson tells Axios.

• "We build an intentional community around those families and expand greatly beyond year one," she says.
• The campus will be at 7979 Ivanhoe Ave. near La Jolla Cove.

By the numbers: This school year, Alpha plans to open campuses in 27 markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Nashville and Raleigh.

• Some of those campuses were previously announced and delayed, largely because of issues with the real estate, says MacKenzie Price, co-founder and CEO of Alpha Schools.

How it works: Students spend no more than two hours a day on AI software to learn core subjects, Price says.

• They spend the rest of the day developing life skills in workshops. (For example, students have organized a music festival for a nonprofit.)
• Instead of licensed teachers conducting lessons, Alpha Schools hires "guides" whose jobs are to motivate and coach students. They're paid at least $100,000 a year.

The big picture: Many public schools have been slow to put clear guardrails around AI.

• Just 18% of teachers in public K-12 schools in a recent Gallup study said they've received formal guidance from school administrators on how to use AI tools.

Friction point: Penn State professor Gerald LeTendre says his concern with AI education models — including Unbound Academy and Khan Lab School — is they risk conflating teaching and tutoring.

🏚️ Vacant homes are turning into party spots, according to the sheriff's department. (10News)

• Partiers post on social media and then hop between houses on the same night, leaving deputies to play whack-a-mole.

🏫 School enrollment far exceeded San Diego Unified's goal, with 3,033 new students signing up ahead of the school year. (Times of San Diego)

• The district said a new online enrollment option was one reason.

🔥 Fire departments are using remote-controlled machines to chew through overgrown brush, giving crews another way to clear steep or hazardous terrain around homes and in canyons. (Union-Tribune)

🦝 Three raccoons graduated from the Humane Society's new centralized nursery. The trio of orphans were released together at Mission Trails after learning to climb, forage and fend for themselves. (Times of San Diego)

U.S. families expect to spend nearly $1,000 on average on back-to-school shopping this year, according to a PwC survey.

• Nearly half expect to spend more than they did last year.

State of play: Families in the Northeast, West and Midwest plan to outspend the national average of $922 — which includes clothes, tech, equipment for after-school activities, books, school supplies and other one-time purchases.

What's happening: Prices are higher, classroom needs have changed and kids have more say over what families buy — including requests for pricier items.

• They're seeing more ads on screens and often using digital wallets to buy things without parental interference, PwC's Kelly Pedersen tells Axios.

The big picture: Total K-12 back-to-school spending could climb around 10% this year compared to last, hitting a record $43.3 billion, the National Retail Federation forecasts.

Reality check: The spending doesn't stop once school starts.

• Households nationwide plan to spend $635 a month on recurring expenses like meals, snacks and tutoring, per PwC.

San Diego is among schools across the U.S. that are cracking down on student cellphone use, but a new study finds the restrictions bring mixed results.

The big picture: Schools that require students to lock away their phones during class have seen phone use decline substantially, according to the study shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April.

• Student well-being also appears to improve the longer the rules remain in place.

Yes, but: "For academic achievement, average effects on test scores are consistently close to zero," the researchers wrote.

• And they found "little evidence" those policies affect attendance, attention in class or perceived online bullying.

Students and teachers here tell Axios that despite the ban, phones are still a common sight in the classroom.