Physical Activity in SchoolsRegular physical activity is essential for children’s health, quality of life and achievement of a healthy weight. A growing body of research correlates students’ physical fitness to better concentration, reduced disruptive behaviors, and higher test scores in reading, math and writing.8 In response, there is a nationwide movement to promote student physical activity opportunities in the school setting.

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicate that children should be physically active for 60 minutes or more each day. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that children accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily and that schools ensure all students participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the school day.

The National Physical Activity Plan released in 2010 outlines a series of recommendations designed to increase the physical activity of Americans in many sectors, including an emphasis on physical activity in schools.9 Recommendations for physical activity in children’s lives cannot be met without schools taking a major role. More than 96.8 percent of American youth ages 5-17, are enrolled in school, and students spend, on average, 33 hours per week in school.10,11 Schools present a variety of opportunities for students to participate in physical activity in the classroom, at recess and during physical education.

Fitnessgram® DataA growing body of research suggests a relationship between physical activity and student behaviors and academic achievement.12, 13, 14

Delaware Policy Should Ensure Physical Activity in Elementary SchoolsBy Sonya Davis 2012 2012

Notes

page 1Nemours Health & Prevention Servicespage 4 © 2012. The Nemours Foundation. Nemours is a registered trademark of the Nemours Foundation. 1326-M&C

Since many students were kinesthetic learners, Robin came up with “math words” to say when doing familiar dance steps. The first dance that was developed was the “Macarena,”and the hand motions used in that song were perfect for naming the place value portions: ones, tens, hundreds, comma, etc.

Since then, many other songs/dances have been developed to familiar songs – “The Electric Slide” and “Walk Like an Egyptian” for multiplication facts, “The Cupid Shuffle” for long division, “The Hokey Pokey” for steps in figuring out volume, “We Are Family” for fractions and decimals, “The Chicken Dance” for polygons, “YMCA” for angles, “Boot Scoot Boogie” for a special way to figure our 9s, and “Celebration” for data collection and analysis.

Though these dances started out as a way to reach students academically, they now have another important motive: getting the students up and moving! The students love these dances and look forward to each Friday – the day they get to sing and dance. Toward the last week of school, students will get into groups and develop their own dance incorporating math concepts and perform for the rest of the class.

Recommended Action StepDelaware policymakers should join the 12 other states that have supported student learning, attendance and positive behavior by enacting legislation requiring 150 minutes of physical activity weekly for elementary school students. About Nemours Health &

Prevention Services Nemours Health & Prevention Services (NHPS) is a division of Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, operating the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and outpatient facilities throughout the Delaware Valley and northern and central Florida.

The goal of NHPS is to drive long-term improvements in policies and practices that promote child health, and to leverage community strengths and resources to help children grow up healthy.

One of our initial areas of emphasis is the prevention of childhood obesity through promotion of healthy lifestyles, the centerpiece of which is the 5-2-1-Almost None prescription for a healthy lifestyle:

� Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

� Spend no more than two hours per day in front of a screen (TV, video games, recreational computer time).

� Get at least one hour of physical activity per day.

� Drink almost no sugary beverages like soda or sports drinks.

 

                                                                                                                          1 Delaware Department of Education, Nemours Health & Prevention Services. Physical Fitness, Academic Achievement and Student Behavior. April 2011.

2 Grissom J. Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement. Pediatric Exercise Physiology. 2005; 8:11-25. 3 Texas Education Agency. Physically fit students more likely to do well in school, less likely to be disciplinary problems. Austin, Texas; March 2009. 4 Human Kinetic Publishers, Inc. FITNESSGRAM®/ACTIVITYGRAM®: Activity and Fitness Assessment and Personal Physical Activity Management. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http:/www.fitnessgram.net/home/ 5 US Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC; 2008. 6 US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. Washington, DC: 2010. 7 National Research Council. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2005. 8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010. 9 National Physical Activity Plan. Available at: http://www.physicalactivityplan.org/index.php. Accessed on January 30, 2012. 10 US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau. School Enrollment in the United States: 2008. Washington, DC; 2011. 11 US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. School and Staffing Survey (SASS). Available at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/tables/sass0708_005_t1n.asp. Accessed on January 30, 2012. 12 Taras H. Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. Journal of the School of Health. 2005; 75:214-218. 13 Scheuer L, Mitchell D. Does physical activity influence academic performance? Available at: http://www.scahperd.org/Does_Physical_Activity_Influence_Academic_Performance.pdf. Accessed on February 10, 2012. 14 Tremblay MS, Inman JW, Williams JD. The relationship between physical activity, self-esteem, and academic achievement in 12-year-old children. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2000;12:312-324. 15 Satcher D. Healthy and Ready to Learn: Research Shows that nutrition and physical activity affect student academic achievement. Education Leadership. 2005; 63:26-30. 16 Davis C, Tomporowski PD, McDowell JE, et al. Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: A randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychology. 2011; 30:91-98. 17 Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Indoor Fitness Breaks. Available at: http://www.healthiergeneration.org/uploadedFiles/For_Schools/09-877.pdf. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 18 Nemours Health & Prevention Services. Get Moving! Action Stories. Available at: http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/actstory.pdf Accessed on March 11, 2012. 19 Nemours Health & Prevention Services. Take 10! Curriculum Crosswalk. Take 10! Third Grade. Available at: http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/take10third.pdf Accessed on March 11, 2012. 20 Colorado Legislative Council Staff Fiscal Note on HB11-1069. Available at: http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2011a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/9CF56533FEFE87598725780800800FBF?Open&file=HB1069_00.pdf. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 21 Louisiana Legislative Fiscal Office Note on HB 400 of 2009. Available at: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=664345. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 22 Mississippi Legislature 2007 Regular Session History of Actions on SB 2369 of 2007. Available at: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2007/pdf/history/SB/SB2369.htm#title. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 23 South Carolina Legislature 2005 History of Actions on HB 3499 of 2005. Available at: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 24 Texas Legislature Fiscal Note on SB 530 of 2007. Available at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/fiscalnotes/html/SB00530F.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2012. 25 National Association of State Boards of Education. State School Health Policy Database. Available at: http://nasbe.org/healthy_schools/hs/. Accessed on February 1, 2012. 26 NHPS analysis of Florida and Texas legislative fiscal notes and North Carolina’s public documents regarding physical activity regulation.

252 Chapman RoadChristiana Building, Suite 200Newark, Delaware 19702(302) 444-9100 � (888) 494-5252email: nhps_info@nemours.orgwww.nemours.org/growuphealthy

Summary Recent studies show the importance of schools implementing physical activity and the strong relationship between physical fitness and student success. The 2011 Delaware Fitnessgram® study conducted by the Delaware Department of Education and Nemours Health & Prevention Services showed that Delaware students who are more physically fit perform significantly better in both reading and mathematics, and students who are less physically fit exhibit significantly lower scores in reading and mathematics. In addition, the latter experienced significantly more suspension days and absenteeism.1 Similar studies in California and Texas demonstrated that students with high Fitnessgram® scores have better overall school performance according to a variety of measures.2, 3

Fitnessgram® is an evidence-based tool created in 1982 by the Cooper Institute. It assesses student aerobic capacity, body composition, strength, endurance and flexibility. These benchmarks represent a level of fitness necessary for good health.4

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children should be physically active for 60 minutes or more each day.5, 6 The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that children accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily and that schools ensure all students participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the school day.7

A significant majority, 72 percent, of Delaware’s elementary schools are successfully working towards reaching 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for students weekly. Teachers, staff and administrators involved in these efforts report their students behave better, are more ready to learn and are receptive to lessons integrated with physical activity. A statewide policy to ensure 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in elementary schools will enable Delaware to join 12 other states that promote children’s academic achievement with policies ensuring sufficient physical activity during the school day.

Physical Activity Policy Will Not Require FundingDelaware’s schools have adopted creative ways to achieve physical activity goals. Schools can implement physical activity almost anywhere: in physical education classes, as an energizing “learning in motion” activity, in the classroom, or during recess. A number of web-based resources are available to assist educators on how to do this, as well as technical assistance from NHPS.17, 18, 19

There is no need for additional time in the school day or increased fiscal resources.

A number of states have implemented policies requiring 150 minutes of physical activity in schools without incurring costs. Fiscal impact analysis from Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas have indicated no state or school funding impact as a result of enacting 150 minutes of physical activity in elementary schools. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Legislative Action Paves the Way for Physical Activity in Delaware’s SchoolsThe following Delaware legislation has paved the way for promoting physical activity in schools:

House Bill 372 of 2006 required each local school district and charter school to assess the physical fitness of each student at least once at the elementary, middle and high school level and provide the results to the student’s caregiver. Fitnessgram® is the tool used in Delaware for the assessment.

House Bill 471 of 2006 mandated a physical education/physical activity (PE/PA) pilot program in at least six of Delaware’s elementary, middle or high schools. The DOE established the goal that each student in the PE/PA program shall achieve at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity. As a result of this legislation, a number of schools statewide have participated, growing from 6 initial schools to 70 schools involved.

Senate Bill 289 of 2006 clarified the role of the Delaware Statewide Health Advisory Committee

(SHAC) to provide advice and guidance to the DOE regarding physical education and physical activity programs in Delaware public schools. In 2007, the SHAC released the Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly with several recommendations, including expansion of the PE/PA Pilot Program to more schools.Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 of 2009 encouraged Delaware’s schools to provide students with a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.

Schools Share Positive Experiences

“I believe that the JAMmin’ Minute activities and stations have helped to create a culture and climate in the school where students and teachers can work together to make this a place conducive for learning. Through exercising our bodies together, we feel more comfortable to exercise our minds together. Children get to see that their teachers and principal are human. So they can relate to us more. When parents are in the building, many participate as well. This has helped our whole school community come together as a family that focuses on moving in the right direction academically and physically.”

Principal Tracey N. Roberts, Pulaski Elementary

“When using our spelling words to create a Take 10! activity. I ask the students to choose whether we are going to ‘sky-write,’ ‘shoot basketballs,’ or ‘play baseball,’ along with other options. We march in place while we are not spelling words. When I ask the students to spell a word, we spell using one of the choices above. Then we march in place. We repeat this process for the rest of the spelling words.”

Megan Rowe, 4th Grade East Millsboro Elementary

Robin Moxley and Patti Bear have been working together in a 5th grade inclusion setting for 16 years. They have worked as a team in three different buildings in the Appoquinimink School District, most recently at Townsend Elementary School for the last nine years. They always have a wide range of abilities in their classroom such as students with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities and other issues – as well as gifted students, at the other end of the spectrum. They are always searching for new ways to reach students, especially those who have a difficult time understanding concepts. Years ago, Robin decided to use her love of music and dance to teach mathematical concepts.

Studies have shown that physical activity is linked to better concentration, reduced disruptive behaviors and higher test scores in reading, math and writing.15 A recent study demonstrates that exercise improves executive function (i.e., planning behaviors such as self-regulation and intentionality) and academic performance, and increases brain activation.16 The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) and Nemours Health & Prevention Services (NHPS) collaborated to analyze the relationships among Delaware students’ physical fitness levels (as measured by Fitnessgram®) and student academic outcomes (as measured by Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) ), and student behavior outcomes such as attendance and suspensions. Fitnessgram® is a health-related fitness assessment tool developed by the Cooper Institute.

The tool assesses a student’s aerobic capacity, body composition, strength, endurance and flexibility. Adequate performance on the test is based upon a test score falling in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) for each of the five tests that measure a different aspect of fitness. Delaware DOE requires annual testing of students in grades 4, 7, and 9/10. Delaware Fitnessgram® and eSchool PLUS data in two school years (SY 2008-09 and SY 2009-10) were collected and analyzed. The final number of usable cases for the analysis included 80,064 student records, a significant representative number for the state of Delaware.

Data analysis showed that more physically fit students:

� are higher performers on the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP)

� have significantly lower number of suspension days

� have significantly greater attendance at school

Delaware students who are less physically fit exhibit significantly lower scores in math and reading and also have significantly more suspension days and absenteeism.

This study is the first to demonstrate these relationships among students in Delaware. The Delaware study controlled for family income, race, gender and school district, demonstrating that these relationships exist regardless of the controlled variables.

Simply put, fit students are more likely to do well and to behave appropriately regardless of their gender, race, family income or school district.

Delaware Schools Can Now Achieve 150 Minutes of Activity per Week In 2009, NHPS was awarded a Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant. This was a significant achievement, given that these grants are typically awarded to schools or school districts. The grant project is termed “Make School a Moving Experience” and aims to:

� help schools develop plans for providing 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week

� provide school staff with tools and professional development to enable MVPA

� develop a statewide network to offer support for staff providing MVPA

� give after-school providers tools and training to enable MVPA

With the help of this grant, Delaware elementary schools are incorporating 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for every student each week. In the 2011-2012 school year, 72 percent of Delaware elementaries, or 74 schools, are engaged in helping their students to achieve 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.

Delaware Policy Should Ensure Physical Activity in Elementary Schools

Nemours Health & Prevention Services page 3page 2

Other States Take ActionTo date, policies in 12 states ensure that students in public elementary schools are provided with at least 150 minutes of physical activity.25 Most of these states have been able to implement their policies for minimal cost.26 Examples include:

� Iowa law requires students in K-5 to engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes per school day, grades 6-12 for a minimum of 120 minutes per week.

� Louisiana law requires each public K-8 elementary school to provide a minimum of 30 minutes of quality moderate to vigorous physical activity daily for students.

� North Carolina State Board of Education policy requires K-8 schools to provide a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, which may be completed through physical education, physical activities, recess, dance, classroom energizers, or other curriculum-based physical education program.

� Texas law requires students in grades K-5 to participate in moderate to vigorous daily physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school year, which may include physical education classes or recess.

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