In 2008, U.S. schools educated nearly 50 million children, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. These children spent an average of 1,300 hours per year in school. Schools have a long history of addressing the health of children and adolescents, and physical activity – obtained through recess, physical education classes, and after-school programs – has traditionally been an integral component of this focus.
Today, however, schools are under intense pressure to improve academic standards. These pressures, combined with the trend toward children being driven to school and other factors, have reduced the amount of time children and adolescents are physically active during the school day.
Recent research indicates that physical activity actually has a positive impact on academic performance. These findings provide a critical impetus for teachers, coaches, school administrators, and school district officials to take a leadership role in carrying out the following strategies.
STRATEGY 1
Provide access to and opportunities for high-quality,
comprehensive physical activity programs, anchored by physical
education, in Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 educational
settings. Ensure that the programs are physically active,
inclusive, safe, and developmentally and culturally appropriate. VIEW TACTICS
STRATEGY 2
Develop and implement state and school district policies
requiring school accountability for the quality and quantity of
physical education and physical activity programs. VIEW
TACTICS
STRATEGY 3
Develop partnerships with other sectors for the purpose of
linking youth with physical activity opportunities in schools
and communities. VIEW TACTICS
STRATEGY 4
Ensure that early childhood education settings for children ages
0 to 5 years promote and facilitate physical activity. VIEW TACTICS
STRATEGY 5
Provide access to and opportunities for physical activity before
and after school. VIEW TACTICS
STRATEGY
6
Encourage post-secondary institutions to provide access to
physical activity opportunities, including physical activity
courses, robust club and intramural programs, and adequate
physical activity and recreation facilities. VIEW TACTICS
STRATEGY
7
Encourage post-secondary institutions to incorporate
population-focused physical activity promotion training in a
range of disciplinary degree and certificate programs. VIEW TACTICS