School & District Management Report Roundup

Studies Evaluate School Wellness Policies

By Christina A. Samuels — March 03, 2009 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Journal of Public Health Policy has devoted its March issue to the promotion of active living, with several articles focusing specifically on childhood obesity and schools.

One study examines the effect of federally mandated school wellness policies on 45 rural, low-income schools in Colorado.

Although time for physical education increased by about 14 minutes a week in the study schools, the research found the time allotted for free play at recess dropped by 19 minutes a week. The researchers said the less-than-promising results may have been due to weak wellness policies adopted by the districts, competing pressures, principals’ lack of knowledge, and too little accountability.

“With the broader society continuing to place higher expectations and demands on schools (often with little or no additional funding), making physical activity a higher priority in schools will require stronger legislation together with resources, accountability mechanisms, and local community involvement,” the report concludes.

Another study takes a look at a 6-year-old state policy in Arkansas aimed at reducing childhood obesity. The state is the first in the nation to monitor the body-mass index of all public school students and report it to parents, along with any associated health risks. Arkansas also set up an advisory committee to set school health standards.

Many people suggested the state’s effort would stigmatize children. However, the study says few such concerns have emerged and body-mass-index levels have not increased since the policy was implemented.

“The Arkansas experience to date may serve to inform the efforts of other states to adopt policies to address the epidemic of childhood obesity,” the researchers said.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the March 04, 2009 edition of Education Week

Events

School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.
Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Opinion Your School Needs a Teacher-Mentorship Program
We all know how critical the first few years of teaching are. Here's how to set teachers up for success.
Pamela Slifer
4 min read
Mentorship development of young teachers. School leaders make the teaching profession more sustainable by developing a robust mentoring program in their school.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management School Leaders Rush to Manage Deportation Fears
School and district leaders describe a chaotic time amid changes to federal immigration policies.
9 min read
A line of school children with obscured faces board a school bus on their way to school.
E+/Getty
School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About The Superintendent Persona?
The superintendent plays a crucial role in purchasing decisions. Test your knowledge of this key buyer persona and see how your results stack up with your peers.
School & District Management Opinion School Modernization Funds Are in Jeopardy. Here's What to Do
Upgrades to ground-source heat pumps keep students learning in hot weather and rack up energy savings, write two former school leaders.
Brenda Cassellius & Jonathan Klein
5 min read
Thermometer under a hot sun. Hot summer day. High Summer temperatures.
iStock/Getty