Physical Activity at School

RWJF Priority: Increase the time, intensity and duration of physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs

Schools play a critical role in helping children lead active, healthy lives. By requiring active participation in daily physical education classes, providing activity breaks throughout the day, and supporting walking and bicycling to school, schools can increase students’ physical activity. After-school programs located in schools, parks and recreational centers also can develop innovative ways to help children be active.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to examine and develop programs and policies that help children be active before, during and after the school day.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

From Active Living Research

Study: P.E. Could Mean 23 More Minutes of Physical Activity for Kids

Requiring daily physical education in school could help young people be active for 23 minutes per day, which is more than a third of the total amount of daily physical activity experts recommend for young people.

Read the study

From Active Living Research

Do Short Physical Activity Breaks in Classrooms Work?

Providing short physical activity breaks during the school day can increase physical activity in students, help improve on-task behavior, and improve some measures of health.

Read the brief

From the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Terence C. Reilly School No. 7: Healthy Schools Program Gold National Recognition Award Winner

Principal Jennifer Cedeno chalks up her students' attention spans—and their academic performance—to an innovative physical activity and nutrition program.

Learn more

From Active Living Research

Policies and Standards for Promoting Physical Activity in After-School Programs

After-school programs can contribute to children’s overall daily physical activity, but their potential impact is far from being realized. This brief examines offers recommendations for changing standards and policies to better promote physical activity in after-school programs.

Read the brief

From the Safe Routes to School National Program

Safe Routes to School: Helping Communities Save Lives and Dollars

By getting more children to walk and bicycle to school, Safe Routes to School initiatives can reduce traffic congestion around schools and increase children's physical activity levels.

Read the report

Health Policy Snapshot

Do Students Who Are More Active Do Better in School?

Physical activity is linked to cognitive and behavioral benefits for students, such as improved concentration, better school attendance, and fewer classroom disruptions.

Read the brief

More Research and Resources on Physical Activity at School

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Physical Education and Student Activity

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

A new policy was set in place in 2009, adopted by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) after audits revealed that the district was not enforcing physical education (PE) minute requirements.

District and School Physical Education Policies

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

The association between PE polices at the district and school level, as well as the overall PE environment, and PE and recess time is addressed in this study.

A Scientist Studies Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Out-of-School Time Programs

December 20, 2012 | Story

More than 8 million children attend out-of-school time programs, which can play a role in addressing childhood obesity. Georgia S. Hall, PhD, studied how these programs address physical activity and healthy eating, and barriers to good practices.

Does Playworks Have an Impact on Schools and on the Children Who Attend Them?

September 17, 2012 | Story

Susanne N. James-Burdumy, PhD, Associate Director of Research at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., leads the random assignment evaluation of Playworks, a program that uses play to promote physical activity and youth development in schools.

The State of Play

February 1, 2010 | Survey/Poll

RWJF commissioned a first-of-its-kind Gallup poll of 1,951 principals in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and Playworks, a Vulnerable Populations grantee.

A Survey of Physical Education Programs and Policies in Texas Schools

September 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Texas teachers are supportive of mandatory physical fitness testing but not all students are cooperating.

Physical Education and School Contextual Factors Relating to Students' Achievement and Cross-Grade Differences in Aerobic Fitness and Obesity

September 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Physical education programs and policies explain only some of the variance in fitness levels of Texas students socioeconomic status and community factors also are important.

Reflections on the Texas Youth Evaluation Project and Implications for the Future

September 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., founder of the Cooper Institute, creator of the FITNESSGRAM® test battery, calls for quality physical education programs.

Los Angeles Attorneys: Physical Education is a Right, Not a Privilege

September 22, 2011 | Story

Winning Strategies in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.

Active Education

November 8, 2007 | Issue Brief

Physical education, physical activity and academic performance.