Health and Wellness
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Physical Activity
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Physical activity is essential for good health. A growing body of evidence suggests that physical activity can also help improve academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores. Increasing opportunities for physical activity during the school day has been shown to enhance concentration and improve classroom behavior, and increasing or maintaining time dedicated to physical education does not appear to adversely affect academic performance (1). School wellness policies are required to set district goals for physical activity and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. The following links provide important resources to support evidence-based physical activity goals in schools.
California Physical Education Model Standards
Support high quality physical education programs designed to provide students with the knowledge and ability to maintain active,healthy lifestyles.
Physical Education Standard K-12Physical Education Framework
The Framework provides guidelines for implementing the CA Physical Education Standards.
The California Physical Fitness
Results for your district or county can be downloaded to determine how fit your students are:
Physical Fitness TestingThe California After School Resource Center
Provides many resources related to physical activity including:
California After School Resource Center Physical FitnessCalifornia Department of Education Online Trainings
Physical Activity for the ClassroomSafe Routes to School in Marin County
These programs are "designed to decrease traffic and pollution and increase the health of children and the community, Safe Routes to Schools promotes walking and biking to school, using eduation and incentives to show how much fun it can be! The program addresses parents' safety concerns by educating children and the public, partnering with traffic law enforcement, and developing plans to create safer streets. Marin County pioneered the national Safe Routes to Schools program that has spread across the U.S."
Safe Routes to School in Marin CountyPlayworks 20 Years of Play
Playworks is a recess support program that has been adopted at several elementary schools in Marin."Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that transforms schools by providing play and physical activity at recess and throughout the school day. Through on-site direct service and trainer-led professional development workshps, Playworks restores valuable teaching time, reduces bullying, increases physical activity and improves the school and learning environment."
Click here to access the Playworks website.
1.) CDC - The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2010. Available at: Center for Disease Control and Prevention