2014 Georgia middle and high school physical activity data summary

The Georgia Department of Public Health
2014 Georgia Middle and High School Physical Activity Data Summary
Background
Physical activity prevents chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.1 In addition, being physically active improves mental health, reduces anxiety and depression and enhances academic performance.2 Current national guidelines recommend that children and adolescents participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily.3 Schools can improve fitness habits and overall health by implementing policies and practices that promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles for a lifetime.2 One way to ensure that students receive well-rounded physical activity experiences is for schools to develop, implement and evaluate their own multi-component approaches, also known as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). 4
Data Description
The School Health Profiles (SHP) is a biennial survey of middle and high school principals and lead health educators (LHEs) in representative middle and high schools in Georgia. SHP monitors the status of school health education, physical education and school health policies related to HIV/AIDS, tobacco use prevention, nutrition, asthma management activities and family and community involvement in school health.
For the 2014 SHP survey, questionnaires were sent to 392 regular public schools, charter schools and alternative schools containing any of grades 6 through 12 during spring 2014. Survey questionnaires were received from principals in 77 percent of schools and from LHEs in 72 percent of schools. Because the response rate was greater than 70 percent, the results were weighted and are considered representative of all public schools in Georgia including charter, alternative and traditional schools comprising at least one of grades 6 through 12.
Overview of Physical Activity Policies and Practices
SHP survey data shows that among Georgia's middle and high schools: Forty-eight percent have at least one group (e.g. a school health council, committee or team) that offers guidance on the development of policies or coordinates activities on health topics. Seventy-four percent have a school health council, committee or team that assessed the availability of physical activity opportunities for students during the past year. Fifty-seven percent taught a required physical education course. Twenty-seven percent have students participate in physical activity breaks during the school day, outside of physical education. Sixty-three percent offer opportunities for all students to participate in intramural sports programs or physical activity clubs. Seventy-eight percent offer interscholastic sports to students. Thirty-three percent offer opportunities for students to participate in physical activity before the school day through organized physical activities or access to facilities or equipment for physical activity. Sixty-six percent have a joint use agreement for shared use of school or community physical activity facilities.

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2014 Georgia Middle and High School Physical Activity Data Summary GEORGIA MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Two percent of middle schools have established, implemented or evaluated all components of CSPAP (Appendix 1).
Seventy-eight percent of middle schools required a physical education course for each grade (Chart 1). Seventy-five percent of middle schools offered interscholastic sports to students (Chart 1). Sixty-eight percent of middle schools offered intramural sports (Chart 1). Thirty-three percent of middle schools have students participate in physical activity breaks in classrooms during
the school day, outside of physical education (Chart 1).
GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOLS
One percent of high schools established, implemented or evaluated all components of CSPAP (Appendix 1). Eighty-four percent of high schools offered interscholastic sports to students (Chart 2). Fifty-nine percent of high schools offered intramural sports (Chart 2). Thirty-one percent of high schools required a physical education course for each grade (Chart 2). Nineteen percent of high schools have students participate in physical activity breaks in classrooms during the
school day, outside of physical education (Chart 2).
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2014 Georgia Middle and High School Physical Activity Data Summary
How Can Schools Improve Physical Activity Among Students?
By requiring informative and inclusive physical education2: Required physical education courses meet the needs of all students and provide an enjoyable learning experience. Quality physical education can provide students with the skills to continue physical activity outside of class time. Requiring physical education courses at all grade levels would guarantee that students meet the current national guidelines to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.3
By offering students opportunities for physical activity during school2: Students spend an average of six hours each day at school for approximately 180 days out of the year.6 Opportunities for physical activity during the school day, in addition to a physical education course, can help children meet the recommended 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day as well as improve academic performance by enhancing attentiveness and concentration in the classroom.3,7,8 Schools can institute daily school-wide physical activity during morning announcements, integrate physical activity into class lessons, allow for short breaks (five to ten minutes) throughout the school day and provide adequate space and equipment during designated recess time.
By offering students opportunities for physical activity before and after school2: In addition to physical activity during the school day, opportunities for physical activity before and after school can help children meet the minimum recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity each day.3 Schools may encourage students to walk or bike to school and can provide opportunities for students to join sports teams, either through intramural or interscholastic programs. Participation in intramural activities has been shown to benefit students' physical and social development, establish cooperative and competitive skills and is associated with improved mental health and fewer risky behaviors.9,10
By fostering staff involvement2: Faculty and staff members can serve as positive role models to students by demonstrating active lifestyle choices, which in turn encourages students to be active.2
By supporting family & community engagement2: Schools can encourage parents, guardians and family members to participate in evening and weekend special events or to volunteer their time to lead physical activities2. Coordination with community-based organizations (such as a YMCA or Parks and Recreation Department) to provide programs before and after school or establishing joint-use or shared-use agreements with schools would give students additional opportunities to be physically active, such as on the weekends, during the summer or during other holidays when schools may be closed. Community centers provide safe spaces for young people and their families to participate in physical activity.11
For more information on implementing a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program, please see the CSPAP Guide at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/cspap.htm
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2014 Georgia Middle and High School Physical Activity Data Summary
References
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity guidelines advisory committee report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2008.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs: A Guide for Schools. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2013.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical activity guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2008.
4. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Subcommittee of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012.
5. National Association for Sport and Physical Education & American Heart Association. (2012). 2012 Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA. Reston, VA: American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
6. US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Educational indicators, indicator 24: time in formal instruction. Washington, DC: US Department of Education; 2010.
7. Barros RM, Silver EJ, Stein RE. School recess and group classroom behavior. Pediatrics 2009; 123:431-6. 8. Caterino MC, Polak ED. Effects of two types of activity on the performance of second-, third-, and fourth-
grade students on a test of concentration. Perceptual and Motor Skills 1999; 89:245-8. 9. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Guidelines for after-school physical activity and
intramural programs. Reston, VA: National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 2002. 10. Harrison PA, Gopalakrishnan N. Differences in behavior, psychological factors, and environmental factors
associated with participation in school sports and other activities in adolescence. Journal of School Health 2003; 73:113-20. 11. Choy LB, McGurk MD, Tamashiro R, Nett B, Maddock JE. Increasing access to places for physical activity through a joint use agreement: a case study in urban Honolulu. Prev Chronic Dis 2008;5(3).
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2014 Georgia Middle and High School Physical Activity Data Summary

Appendix 1. Prevalence of Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program Components

Percentage of Schools that have established, implemented or evaluated components of the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) by School Level
Percentage of schools that have established, implemented or evaluated all components of CSPAP Offer guidance on the development of policies or coordinates activities on health topics through a school health
council, committee and/or team Assessment of the availability of physical activity opportunities for students in the past year by a school health
council, committee and/or team Taught a required physical education course
Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Ninth Grade Tenth Grade Eleventh Grade Twelfth Grade Students participate in physical activity breaks in classrooms during the school day, outside of physical education Offer opportunities for all students to participate in intramural sports programs or physical activity clubs Offer interscholastic sports to students Offer opportunities for students in participate in physical activity before the school day through organized physical activities or access to facilities or equipment for physical activity Have joint use agreement for shared use of school or community physical activity facilities
*Includes all schools with the specified grade level

High School
0.8 44.7

Percent (%) Middle School
1.9 51.5

All Schools
1.7 48.2

70.4

77.0

74.0

30.5

78.1

57.2

-

82.1

82.0*

-

81.8

81.7*

-

81.5

80.8*

94.8

-

93.4*

45.6

-

45.4*

39.0

-

39.1*

37.8

-

37.9*

18.8

33.0

27.2

59.3

67.5

63.3

84.4

74.5

78.3

38.9

28.2

32.6

64.7

69.1

66.4

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