There is a CPS Guideline in place regarding cold weather and recess, below has been cut and pasted directly from that document:
Winter Weather Safety
Principals and Heads of Upper Schools are encouraged not to cancel recess due to weather, unless absolutely necessary. Each principal and head of upper school or designee will determine whether the temperature or wind-chill are severe enough to cancel recess. A basic framework for weather decisions is the following:
Below 10 degrees: Indoor Recess
Below 32 degrees: Coat, long pants, gloves/mittens & hats as appropriate
More detail (including wind-chill) can be found at Child Care Weather Watch.
Students who do not have appropriate winter or rain wear may need to be kept inside, but other students are expected to participate in outside recess. Principals and Heads of Upper Schools will inform parents/guardians to send students to school dressed appropriately for the weather and that any families that need help obtaining winter outerwear should contact their school's family liaison.
During outdoor activities, principals and heads of upper schools will put measures into place to:
- Promote or require student use of protective items such as clothing (long pants, coat, hats, and gloves/mittens).
- Notify families prior to field trips and prolonged outdoor events that they are expected to prepare their child accordingly for activities in winter weather.
- As needed, consider substituting indoor activities that take place when temperature, wind chill or weather are severe. of children (for example, on sidewalks, in bike lanes).
- Ensure that there are crossing guards appropriate intersections along key elementary and middle school walking and biking routes.
- Make any changes in crossing guard locations on the basis of a traffic analysis.
View the entire document >>
Page 8 is where you will find the above text.