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Trends in School District Wellness Policies
In addition to state laws, Bridging the Gap researchers annually collect 
and code congressionally mandated school district wellness policies, which 
are required to include physical activity goals. District wellness policies 
and other relevant school district policy documents (e.g., regulations, cur-
riculum standards) are gathered annually from a nationally representative 
sample of school districts (N = ~600 school districts/year). Web searches 
are conducted, and telephone and mail follow-up with districts is used, if 
necessary, to identify the policies. District-level policies are coded using the 
same 0, 1, 2 scoring described above for state laws. 
Figures 2-13 through 2-16 show that local school districts have been 
steadily enacting and strengthening the physical education and physical 

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Status and Trends of Physical Activity Behaviors and Related School Policies
 
81
FIGURE 2-13
Progress in adopting district wellness policies and required policy components.
SOURCE: Chriqui et al., 2012. 
Figure 2-13.eps
06-07
P
ercentage of Students in a Distr
ict with a 
Po
licy 100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
07-08
Wellness policy exists
Wellness policy includes
all required elements
Physical activity goals
Physical education provisions
Implementation and
evaluation plans
08-09
09-10
10-11
FIGURE 2-14
Selected physical education provisions in district wellness policies, by year.
NOTE: Physical education is not a required element of wellness policies but is commonly addressed. 
MVPA = moderate to vigorous physical activity; PA = physical activity; PE = physical education. 
SOURCE: Chriqui et al., 2012. 
Figure 2-14.eps
06-07
PE
Addressed
Percentage Address Policy
Percentage with Strong Policy
PE
Curriculum
Each Grade
PE
Teaches
About PA
Lifestyle
PE
Competency
Assessment
MVPA
During
PE
PE
Training for
Teachers
P
ercentage of Distr
icts Nationwide with a 
Po
licy 100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
10-11
06-07
10-11
06-07
10-11
06-07
10-11
06-07
10-11
06-07
10-11

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
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