School Policies on Physical Education and Physical Activity
Research Briefs & Syntheses

School Policies on Physical Education and Physical Activity

October 2011
Author:
Dianne S. Ward
Topic:
Schools, School Policies, Physical Education, Recess, Activity Breaks, Joint Use Agreements, School Facilities
Population Served:
School-age Youth (K-12), Unspecified
Location by State:
National
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Summary:

The Challenge: Regular physical activity can reduce children’s risk of obesity and improve their classroom performance, but many schools provide few opportunities for students to be active.

Make an impact: Schools can provide excellent opportunities for children to be physically active, including through physical education, regular recess, and access to physical play and exercise spaces during non-school hours and in the summer.

What the findings are about: This synthesis summarizes the substantial and growing body of evidence about different ways to promote children’s physical activity in schools.

Key Findings and Recommendations:
  • Regularly scheduled physical education programs that include the use of standardized curricula, goals for active classes and staff development can result in children who are more physically active.
  • Schools can help increase students’ activity levels outside of physical education classes, such as through recess, classroom activity breaks, after-school programs, and joint-use agreements between schools and communities.
  • School environments should include safe equipment and multiple supervised facilities that encourage children to be physically active.
  • States should require schools to provide children with at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.

 

FACT SHEETS:

Abbreviated fact sheets are available that highlight the research synthesis' main findings.

Suggested Citations:
Ward D. School Policies on Physical Education and Physical Activity. A Research Synthesis. Princeton, NJ: Active Living Research, a National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; October 2011. Available from: www.activelivingresearch.org.
 

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