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Appropriate instruction
•
Full inclusion of all students.
•
Maximum practice opportunities for class activities.
•
Well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning.
•
Out-of-school assignments that support learning and practice.
•
Physical activity not assigned or withheld as punishment.
•
Regular assessment to monitor and reinforce student learning.
Student and program assessment
•
Assessment is an ongoing, vital part of the physical education 
program.
•
Formative and summative assessments of student progress are 
conducted.
•
Student assessments are aligned with state/national physical educa-
tion standards and the written physical education curriculum.
•
Assessment of program elements that support quality physical edu-
cation is conducted.
•
Stakeholders periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the total 
physical education program.
SOURCE: Adapted from NASPE, 2009c. 
Research supports the use of SPARK as a platform for improving the 
quality of physical activity instruction in schools. The SPARK curriculum 
has demonstrated the ability to improve student activity levels, increase the 
number of minutes of vigorous- or moderate-intensity physical activity for 
students, and provide sustainable and positive change in a school district 
(Myers-Schieffer and Thomas, 2012). In one study, researchers found that 
“the children were positive about this specific curriculum. This is gratifying 
because one of the goals of the program was to engender positive feeling 

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Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
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