School-Based Physical Activity Positively Impacts Academic Performance
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April 16, 2010—SNA members know that school meals provide children with the energy they need to perform their best in the classroom. A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health sheds further light on another aspect of the school experience that can have a positive effect on academic performance—school-based physical activity.

In The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance, researchers found that school-based physical activity may help improve students’ grades and test scores and positively affect other factors that influence academic achievement. The report also concludes that adding time during the school day for physical activity does not appear to take away from academic performance.

Based on an examination of previous studies pertaining to physical activity in schools, the report authors note that schools can use several strategies to help students meet national physical activity recommendations without detracting from academic performance. For example, schools might consider offering increased physical education time, using trained instructors and increasing the amount of active time during physical education class.

Also according to the report, school leaders can feel confident that participating in recess on a regular basis may have a positive impact on students’ academic performance. In addition, teachers and other school professionals can try to make time for classroom-based physical activity and encourage their students to participate in extracurricular physical activities.