Evaluation of Boston’s Active School Day Policy Interventions

• Project Description
• Other Resources
  

Project Description

This project evaluates the impact of the Boston Public Schools’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW)-funded initiatives to increase and improve physical education (PE) and physical activity in schools. In March 2010, the Boston Public Health Commission received $6.4 million in CPPW obesity prevention funding. As primary CPPW intervention sites, the Boston Public Schools will promote an “Active School Day” through the following policy-backed objectives: 1) Implement policy and a system of standardized PE that includes 50% of PE class time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 2) Increase access to in-school daily MVPA for 22,000 students via active learning, movement breaks, and structured recess, and 3) Conduct fitness assessments for all students in grades 4-9. This study will capitalize on a unique and time sensitive opportunity and help fill the evidence gap on the effectiveness of school district-wide physical activity policy change. We collect accelerometer data from a student sample before and after “Active School Day” policies are implemented, evaluate policy implementation within schools using a quasi-experimental design, conduct cost-effectiveness analysis using evaluation findings, and rapidly communicate and disseminate research findings to key stakeholders via targeted, audience-specific strategies. The goal of this project is to inform other state and local efforts for improving physical activity levels among students using policy approaches.

Principal Investigator: Angie Cradock
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living Research
Funding Dates: February 15, 2011 – August 14, 2012

For more information, contact Jessica Barrett.