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Educating the Student Body
of results, and durable partnerships among different sectors can improve 
health outcomes.
Increasing societal demand for and ingraining values that support a 
healthier environment and population requires direct engagement and 
alignment of the priorities of multiple sectors, including those displayed 
earlier in Figure 1-1. A systems approach in public health requires identify-
ing key actors that can effect change. Within the local education sector, the 
actors that can influence physical activity and physical education opportu-
nities for children and adolescents include school board members, super-
intendents, principals, administrators and coordinators of curricular areas 
and evaluation, school physical education and pupil services, security, and 
transportation programs. Parent-teacher organizations and school health 
advisory councils also are part of a systems perspective on the problem.
To capture the systems perspective on increasing physical activity 
among children and adolescents, it is important to recognize that efforts 
must go beyond physical education curricula or physical activity programs 
per se (see Figure 1-2). Components of an intervention should explicitly and 
directly impact elements of the support infrastructure (at both the school 
and community levels) that enables high-quality physical education and 
meaningful opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. 
Investments in the support infrastructure should ensure that its elements are 
well aligned and integrated (i.e., work synergistically) to achieve the goals 
of school curricula and programs. In addition, opportunities for physical 
activity throughout the school day should be cohesively designed to bring 
about a culture of active living and the value of wellness. Finally, the sup-
port infrastructure should enable accountability of physical education cur-
FIGURE 1-2
Integrated/coordinated approach to increasing physical activity among children 
and adolescents in the school environment before, during, and after school.
NOTE: PA = physical activity; PE = physical education.
Figure 1-2.eps
Policies and 
Regulations 
Stakeholder 
Support/
Mobilization