Do You Want Your Child to Grow Up an Active and Healthy Adult?

1. The handout on the following two pages can be provided to parents at your schoolto provide them the opportunity to rate the program the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) criteria for quality of school physical education programs. They can see firsthand whether the school and district are focusing on their children’s health as they are on academics.

2. Well . . . Did You Know That . . .?? Physical Education is still not regarded a core subject by your school district, your AZ state government, or your federal government?! Your child spends upwards of 6-7 hour a day at school . . . Much of it sitting?! Increasing time in Physical Education will not hamper your child’s academic achievement?! Active children are more likely to grow up into active adults?! Reducing time for Physical Education (and/or recess) does not translate into improved academic performance?! Do You Want Your Childto Grow Up an Active and Healthy Adult? Then Support and Fight for Increased Quality and Quantity of Physical Education! What Can you Do? Check out your child’s Physical Education program (See back for questions to ask!) Team up with other concerned parents . . . Meet with your school and district administrators . . . Insist that your School Board moves to require Physical Education be delivered on par with national recommendations . . . Make the School Board understand you want your child to have quality Physical Education taught by licensed professionals . . . Every week, all year and in every grade level! Your child’s future health and well-being hang in the balance.

3. Opportunity for Physical Activity: • Are ALL students are required to take Physical Education?           YES / NO         • For at least 150 min. per week (Elem. school) and 225 min. per week (Sec. school)?         YES / NO • Class sizes consistent with other subject areas? YES / NO                      • Instruction by a certified Physical Education specialist? YES / NO • Adequate equipment and facilities YES / NO • Meaningful Content:  • Does the program . . . • Follow a written, sequential curriculum for grades P-12, • based on state and/or national Physical Education standards? YES / NO • Does fitness education and assessment help children understand, • improve/maintain physical well-being? YES / NO        • Help develop students’ cognitive concepts about motor skill and fitness  YES / NO                                        • Promote regular amounts of appropriate physical activity at school and out-of-school? YES / NO “Does Your Child Receive Quality Physical Education?” Answer the following questions . . . • Appropriate Instruction • Does the program . . . • Include ALL students equitably in all activities? YES / NO • Provide maximum practice opportunities for all class activities? YES / NO         • Provide well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning?         • Provide out-of-school assignments to support learning and practice? YES / NO • Avoid using physical activity as punishment? • Avoid withholding physical activity because of misbehavior or performance? YES / NO • 4. Student and Program Assessment?  • Is formal assessment an ongoing, vital part of the Physical Education program? YES / NO Adapted from: NASPE, 2010; www.aahperd.org/naspe/publications/teachingtools Ask yourself the question: Is the school (and district) taking responsibility for contributing to my child’s health as much as developing academic skills? For more information, contact the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE): Telephone: 800-213-7193; Email: naspe@aahperd.org Mailing Address: NASPE, 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191