Visit the National Academies Press online and register for

Educating the Student Body
TAbLE 6-5 State Policies, Standards, Recommendations, and Guidelines 
for Physical Activity in After-School Programs 
State
Standard, Policy, Recommendation, Guidelines
California 
Create after-school physical activity culture that fosters positive youth 
development 
Develop and implement after-school policies
a. Staff/student ratio: 1/20
Plan and evaluate after-school physical activity
Build and maintain strong infrastructure for after-school physical activity
Ensure all directors and staff members support and promote after-school 
physical activity programs
Develop and maintain high-quality after-school physical activity
Ensure students achieve appropriate amounts of physical activity after school
a. Provide a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA 
during after-school program 
b. Limit sitting for no more than 60 minutes at one time
c. Limit screen time to 60 minutes per after-school session
Ensure all students are included in the after-school physical activity
Connect after-school physical activity with the regular school day
Build partnerships with the community to support after-school physical 
activity
Colorado 
(Denver)
Outdoor environment: outdoor activities on a daily basis, space for large 
muscle activity, frequent opportunities for active physical play
Connecticut
Indoor/outdoor environment: allows for regular physical activity
Regular opportunities for activities such as active play
Staff play with children
Alternative plan in place for programs that do not have access to outdoor 
space on their premises that allows for regular physical activity
Florida
Program provides planned daily recreation, sports, or fitness activities
Illinois
Opportunities for recreation and instruction on nutrition, fitness, and other 
healthy behaviors
Indiana
Indoor environment
a. Space is arranged well for a range of activities—physical games and sports
Programs and activities
a. Regular opportunities for active, physical play
Outdoor environment
a. Each child has the chance to play outdoors for at least 30 minutes out 
of every 3-hour block of time at the program
b. Children can use a variety of outdoor equipment and games for both 
active and quiet play
Safety, health, and nutrition
a. Equipment for active play is safe

---

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Approaches to Physical Activity in Schools
 
299
State
Standard, Policy, Recommendation, Guidelines
Kansas/
Missouri
Promoting physical development—core competencies for professional skill 
development
Level 1
a. Interacts appropriately with and supervises youth during physical 
activities
b. Models healthy behavior
c. Facilitates a variety of physical activities that meet the interests, 
development, and skill levels of youth
Level 2
a. Uses a variety of indoor and outdoor physical activities, including 
structured, unstructured, staff directed, and youth directed
b. Supports youth with special needs as they participate in physical activities
c. Uses a variety of equipment, activities, and opportunities to promote 
physical health and fitness
Level 3
a. Adapts physical health and fitness activities for youth with special needs
b. Incorporates physical activities into all curricular areas (e.g., recreation and 
fitness, academic support, life skills, personal growth and development)
c. Provides an environment that is conducive to the exploration and 
development of physical skills
Level 4
a. Evaluates the appropriateness and effectiveness of physical 
development activities for groups and individuals
b. Articulates the importance and demonstrates the methods of 
integrating health and fitness activities into all curricular areas
c. Understands the impact of health and fitness activities on youth
d. Facilitates youth involvement in curriculum design, implementation, 
and evaluation
Level 5
a. Articulates, analyzes, evaluates, and/or applies current theories and 
research related to promoting physical development
b. Advocates for policies and practices that promote the physical 
development of youth
NOTE: PA = physical activity.
SOURCE: Beets et al., 2010. Reprinted with permission.