Investing in Physical Activity at School

There’s limited in-depth knowledge about how schools, especially low-resourced schools, implement strategies to help children be active. So we wanted to learn from elementary schools that have been successful at changing policies and programs to encourage physical activity.

We interviewed principals, teachers and wellness coordinators from 42 schools in 17 states and the District of Columbia to understand why they made physical activity a priority, how they made those decisions and how they were carried out.

The main reason these schools made physical activity a priority is because they understood its critical role in advancing learning and health goals. Teachers, principals and other study participants cited research and their own direct experience as proof that physical activity can help kids focus better in class, improve their test scores and yield other benefits that help kids learn better.

Participants also emphasized the importance of having advocates—students, staff, administrators and parents—who are willing and actively engaged in educating decision-makers about the benefits of daily physical activity and the critical role schools play in promoting it.

Policies that support physical activity can really help empower people who work in schools. More than 3 in 4 participants said state policy mandates for physical education are “very important” to their school’s decisions to select and implement physical activity strategies. School wellness policies and other policies that govern physical activity standards help legitimize decisions, guide the implementation of strategies, and promote accountability.

Yes. Most participants reported that cost is an important factor when it comes to decisions about strategies that support physical acthttps://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/wp/wp-admin/post.php?post=199&action=edit#ivity. And not surprisingly, limited funds for staffing and equipment were barriers for many schools. Some schools overcame these challenges by securing grants or finding outside resources, such as technical assistance or guides for best practices. For example, participants collaborated with organizations like SHAPE America, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and Active Schools attended relevant conferences, and used videos, forums, and other online resources.

Our study offers these recommendations for policymakers, school officials, funding agencies and advocates:

~ Policymakers can strengthen policies regarding physical activity and physical education by including requirements for funding allocations, guidelines for implementation and compliance measures.

~Everyone, including policymakers, advocates, schools and school districts, should create and foster a culture of learning and health that embraces the multiple benefits of physical activity.

~Schools and school districts can foster collaboration and networking. This includes ensuring that time and resources are available, such as professional development opportunities and conferences related to physical activity, for staff and community members to share ideas and use resources effectively.

~Funding agencies can offer grants and technical assistance to support grant writing for low-resourced schools.