School is the central focus of daily life for most children in the Kansas City region. About half of children's physical activity occurs at school, on average.
Yet, the amount of physical activity children accrue at school can vary drastically across schools. Thus, children who accrue little physical activity at school often have low overall levels of physical activity.
The Schools Sector is led by Christine Scharenberg with Kansas City Kansas Unified School District 500.
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KCPA Plan Strategies and Tactics for Schools
The school setting can play a significant role in public health initiatives related to physical activity. School-based personnel, such as teachers, administrators, and other staff, as well as education decision makers and policy leaders can significantly affect the development and delivery of comprehensive physical activity programming that impacts all students.
The goals of the Schools Sector are to increase adoption of programs and policies rooted in best practices and increase access to physical activity and quality physical education in schools. For the KCPA Playbook, the Schools Sector has chosen to focus on three specific strategies from the National Physical Activity Plan.
Strategy 1
States, regional partners, and schools should support adoption of the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program model.
Tactics
Support schools in adopting and implementing the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) model through state and regional training, resources, family engagement and advocacy.
Provide professional development on the CSPAP model at the state, regional, district, and school levels.
Support schools in adopting regional high priority best practices from the CSPAP model, related to active transportation (Safe Routes to School) and increased student physical activity throughout the school day (activity breaks, activity clubs, quality PE instruction and assessment).
Strategy 2
States, regional partners and schools should provide training and professional development to prepare educators to deliver effective physical activity programs for all students.
Tactics
Prepare physical education teachers to assume the role of school physical activity director, in order to coordinate programs that are consistent with the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program model.
Provide school staff with professional development on provision of physical activity programs that are safe, developmentally and culturally appropriate, and support equitable opportunities for physical activity for all students.
Prioritize professional development related to physical activity breaks, PE instruction/assessment and active transportation (regional high priority best practices from the CSPAP model).
Strategy 3
Schools and regional partners should develop and advocate for policies that promote physical activity among all students.
Tactics
Advocate for the enactment of federal and state policies that establish physical education as a component of a “well-rounded education.”
Encourage policy makers to establish state-wide policies in Kansas that require elementary schools to provide daily recess to all students. Encourage policy makers to strengthen state-wide policies in Missouri that require elementary schools to provide daily recess to all students.
Support adoption of policies requiring that students at all levels be given physical activity breaks during the school day.
Educate administrators and other key stakeholders about the beneficial effects of physical activity on learning and lifelong health.