Increase Opportunities for Physical Activity
Increase opportunities for students to engage in
physical activity. Regular physical activity helps kids succeed in
school. Being active for 60 minutes a day has been linked to increased
concentration and focus, improved classroom behavior, decreased absenteeism,
and better academic performance. A comprehensive school physical activity
program is a multi-component approach that utilizes physical education (PE),
physical activity during school and physical activity before and after school
to help kids achieve the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity each day. Quality PE, Joint-use Agreements (JUA) , and
active transportation to school (walking and biking) are all great ways to add
active minutes to each day.
Get started in developing your customized Comprehensive School
Physical Activity Program (CSPAP).
Quality physical education is the foundation for
healthy, physically active adults. To learn more about quality PE programs
and how Pennsylvania compares to other states, check out SHAPE America’s
2012 Shape of the Nation
Report.
Joint-use agreements employ a contract or
written agreement between a school and a city or community entity outlining
specific terms and conditions for shared use of facility. JUA are a
practical approach for increasing physical activity opportunities, especially
for communities with limited parks or open spaces.
ChangeLab Solutions has created resources and
publications to help organizations understand and implement shared use.
Active transportation is a great way to maximize
physical activity opportunities before and after school. Get
information about walking and biking to school from the National Center for Safe Routes to School and on LiveHealthyPA's Safe Routes to School page.
Additional Resources:
Action for Healthy Kids