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Considering Physical Activity in All 
School-Related Policy Decisions
Recommendation 2: Federal and state governments, school systems at 
all levels (state, district, and local), city governments and city planners, 
and parent-teacher organizations should systematically consider access 
to and provision of physical activity in all policy decisions related to the 
school environment as a contributing factor to improving academic per-
formance, health, and development for all children.
Rationale
Many examples exist of effective and promising strategies for increas-
ing vigorous- and moderate-intensity physical activity in schools. The 
most thorough yet often most difficult to implement are multicomponent 
interventions based on a systems approach that encompasses both school 
and community strategies. For strategies with a singular focus, the evidence 
is most robust for interventions involving physical education. Quality 
physical education curricula increase overall physical activity, increase the 
intensity of physical activity, and potentially influence body mass index 
(BMI)/weight status in youth. However, the lack of consistent monitoring 
of physical activity levels during physical education classes in schools (espe-
cially elementary and middle schools) impedes monitoring and evaluation 
of progress toward increasing physical activity during physical education in 
schools across the nation (see Recommendation 4).
Beyond physical education, opportunities for increasing physical activ-
ity are present in the classroom and, for elementary and middle schools, 
during recess. Classroom physical activity and strategies to reduce seden-

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