SCHOOL ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Physical Education
Meet or exceed requirements for minimum minutes of quality physical education
Schools are increasingly focused on preparing students for academic testing, but quality physical education is also a vital part of a child’s education and development. The benefits of being physically active are far-reaching, and the risks of inactivity are considerable; schools need to prioritize the current and future health of their students by including quality physical education in the school day. Unfortunately, for many children gym class is the only physical activity they will engage in all day before getting a ride home in a bus or car and then plugging into their television or computer at home. Quality physical education provides an opportunity for students to be active during the day, and also helps students develop the skills and confidence needed to continue to be active throughout their lives.
Children’s Need for Physical Activity: Fact Sheet
An American Heart Association fact sheet highlights recent statistics on how unfit many children are today and the lifelong health risk risks of inactivity.
Failing Fitness: Physical Activity and Physical Education in Schools
This report identifies research-based strategies for improving the quality and quantity of physical education adminstered in schools.
Incentives Increase Physical Activity Opportunities in Pitt County Schools (PDF)
“In search of ways to increase the level of physical activity for young people, the Pitt County Council on Physical Fitness and Health developed an incentive program for school classrooms. The mission of Project YEAH! is to motivate students to participate in more physical activity and health related activities both during the school day and after school hours.”
To combat the high obesity rate, PE Central offers programs like Log It and Get Active Stay Active where teachers register their schools and then students register so they can participate.
Energizers: Classroom-based Physical Activities
Developed by the East Carolina University Activity Promotion Laboratory, the "Energizers" are activities that teachers can integrate into their lessons to get kids moving while teaching academic concepts.
PE4life has created a free Community Action Kit you can use to advocate for quality, daily physical education in your community. PowerPoint presentations, handouts and sample letters are available to download on their website.
CDC Healthy Youth Brochures
These colorful brochures are designed to help parents, teachers, and principals increase physical activity among elementary and middle school-aged youth.
Physical Activity for Youth Policy Initiative (PDF)
Physical Activity for Youth Policy Initiative presented by The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity “seeks to provide a means for advocates and policymakers to address the issue of physical inactivity.” The article contains policy options and policies in action in the areas of after school programs, community programs and community design.
Clovis Unified PE Requirement for Graduation
Uses local authority to go beyond the state graduation requirements of two years of high school physical education and requires all high school students to complete eight semesters (four years) of physical education in order to graduate.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy
Recognizing that student academic performance, behavior and health status are compromised by physical inactivity and enhanced by consistent, quality physical activity, the Board of Education requires standards-based physical education for all children in the district pre-K to grade 12.
in the ENACT Local Policy Database
Spark Programs
“While overweight and obesity levels climb, the minutes children spend in physical education (PE) has decreased. SPARK is designed to maximize class activity time, without sacrificing learning. The SPARK team of educators and researchers have spent years creating the tools you need to succeed, and now they are available to you.”
“PE4life inspires active, healthy living by advancing the development of quality, daily physical education programs for all children. Daily physical education provides a simple and inexpensive solution to reduce children's exposure to chronic diseases, while fostering lifelong fitness habits.
Evidence Based Physical Activity for School-Age Youth (PDF)
“An expert panel was convened in 2004 to review and evaluate available evidence on the influence of physical activity on several health and behavioral outcomes in youth 6-18 years of age. Results of the expert panel review concluded that school-age youth should participate in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day through a variety of enjoyable and developmentally appropriate activities.”
Strong WB, et al. Evidence Based Physical Activity for School-Age Youth. Journal of Pediatrics 2005;146:732-7