What is a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program?

In line with the country’s student-centered health framework, the Whole School Whole Community Whole Child model, US schools are encouraged to adopt a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). Recognizing the unique position of schools to help children meet the nationally recommended physical activity levels and develop lifelong healthy behaviors, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) developed a CSPAP framework. A CSPAP aims to increase efforts in the following key areas: physical education, physical activity before and after school, physical activity during school, and through staff, family, and community engagement.

Although there is substantial evidence of the benefits of a CPSPAP on student health and academic outcomes, many schools are limited in resources and time and have unique barriers to effectively implementing a CSPAP. As such, school districts may need to tailor and customize a CSPAP to their individual needs and constraints.  

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Why is UMass Helping with this Study?

Christine St. Laurent, the UMass primary investigator (PI), is a resident of Belchertown and has been a member of the school district’s Healthy and Safer Schools advisory group since 2019. Student movement opportunities during school have been one of the main topics of this advisory group, and this project emerged from those discussions. Additionally, the recent release of the new MA Comprehensive Health and PE Framework from the MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education coincided with our planning discussions. This updated framework promotes a greater range of health topics and standards than the previous 1999 framework, and has underlined the demand to move these efforts forward. 

 

Christine started her current position in the Department of Kinesiology at UMass and launched her research lab last fall. This created an opportunity to collaborate with the district to provide assessment support while creating experiential learning opportunities for current UMass students. Importantly, the district was already working on integrating these new standards, and we are just trying to identify areas where our research team, department, or colleagues at UMass could potentially help and provide resources.

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What is the Role of UMass? 

Our team is working with the district with the aim of collaborating through shared resources to 1) develop a revised wellness policy proposal that is reflective of recent state curriculum framework updates and aligned with the school district’s health promotion goals and values, and 2) initiate the first stages in the development of a health equity and inclusion focused CSPAP for the BPS district.

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What is Involved with the UMass Research Activities?

Parents/legal caregivers and/or BPS students are invited to participate in some research activities. We will share these data (in anonymous form with the school district when we are done. ​Activities vary slightly by age. (Cold Spring families will be invited to participate in measures from our Sunrise Study.) 

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Preschool & Kindergarten (Sunrise Study measures)

• Parents/caregivers: Online survey 

• Students: Cognitive games on iPad, some motor skill activities, and 1 week of activity monitor (on hip and/or wrist)
   

1st through 6th Grade

• Parents/caregivers: Online survey 

• Students: 1 week of activity monitor (Fitbit on wrist)

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7th through 12th Grade

• Parents/caregivers: Online survey 

• Students: 1 week of activity monitor (Fitbit on wrist) with daily sleep/activity log

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How is this Research Being Funded?

There are no financial costs to the district for our current assessment plans. We have some internal funding from UMass (e.g., Commonwealth Honors College Student Research Grants) that is supporting the research activities we are leading. Both our team and the district plan to continue to apply for funding opportunities to support the next steps.

 

What Happens Next?

Our goal for these initial activities is to 1) develop a revised wellness policy proposal for the school district that is reflective of recent state curriculum framework updates and aligned with the district’s health promotion goals and values, and 2) initiate the first stages in the development of a CSPAP for the school district. 

 

This project and partnership are essential first steps and bridges for informing and growing the UMass Department of Kinesiology’s community outreach plans and providing essential formative information on the district’s strengths, needs, and barriers for the development of a CSPAP.