NASPE Issues Position Statement on Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs
June 12, 2008 - A new position statement released in May by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs) for all pre-K through 12th-grade schools that include physical activity programming before, during, and after school.
According to the statement, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and NASPE recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on all or most days of the week. Schools can play a key role in providing education and opportunities for physical activity.
The statement recommends that all schools develop CSPAPs with the following components:
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Quality physical education−Physical education (PE) should occur daily, meet national PE standards, be taught by a certified physical education teacher, and take place in an appropriate environment.
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School-based physical activity opportunities−These opportunities should supplement−not replace−PE in helping students achieve the recommended minimum 60 minutes of physical activity per day. These opportunities should be offered throughout the day and could include classroom “physical activity breaks,” recess, intramural and interscholastic sports, and walking or biking to and from school.
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School employee wellness and involvement−Activities, policies and programs should be developed to promote healthy school employee lifestyles that involve physical activity. Staff should be encouraged to serve as volunteers, coordinators, activity supervisors, and coaches for school physical activity events and programs.
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Family and community involvement−Events and programs involving families and collaborations with community members should be an integral part of CSPAPs. Examples include family fitness nights, sharing information through a variety of communication channels, and opening school facilities to local organizations for community recreation programs.
NASPE also recommends that, to enact a CSPAP effectively, schools should appoint a CSPAP oversight committee, conduct a baseline assessment of physical activity components in the school, create a vision statement and action plan, and implement the action plan.
For the full statement, go to http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/pdf_files/CSPAP_Online.pdf. For more information on NASPE, visit their Web site at http://www.aahperd.org/naspe.
Source: "Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs," A Position Statement from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, NASPE, May 2008.