The Benefits of Health & Physical Education to Students
Positive relationship with academic achievement and test scores.
Positive association with attention, concentration and on-task behavior.
Reduces discipline referrals and participation in high-risk behaviors.
Strategy for reducing childhood obesity.
Encourages lifetime healthy habits.
INSHAPEÂ Supports
Teachers, Administrators, Parents, and Community
(Read Below)
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) identifies school health and physical education as part of a student’s “well-rounded education,” along with other subjects such mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. This new federal education legislation provides increased access to funds for health and PE programs (including professional development) and allows Indiana and school districts to set their own priorities for funding and accountability.
INSHAPEÂ Advocacy Resources
| Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise and Academics (PowerPoint) | Presentation to your PTO, school board, administration, community, etc.: Just plug in your own information, and go! | |
| Active Kids Learn Better Infographic (Image) | Share with your community to build support. | |
| PE + Health = Student Success (Indiana) (PDF) | Share this fact sheet with parents, administrators, and teachers. | |
| The Wellness Impact Report for Administrators (PDF) | This report addresses why school wellness is more important than ever to students’ and our nation’s future. The report illuminates the vital importance of improved nutrition and increased physical activity insuring a school environment that enhances students’ readiness to learn. | |
| What is Physical Literacy? (Image) | Share with your students. | |
| Quality Physical Education Policy (Image) | Share with your community. | |
| Recommendation for Minutes of PE (Image) | Share with your community. | |
| Physical Education is Essential for All Students (PDF) | If your district is looking to expand “waivers” for PE, here is the SHAPE America Position Statement | |
| Contact Advocacy Committee | ||
INSHAPEÂ Additional Resources
| Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| PE + Health = Student Success (General) (PDF) | Share this fact sheet with parents, administrators, and teachers. | |
| The Wellness Impact Report for Parents (PDF) | This report explains why school wellness is more important than ever to students’ and our nation’s future. It illuminates the vital importance of improved nutrition and increased physical activity in ensuring a school environment that enhances students’ readiness to learn. | |
| Inspiring Parents to Demand Healthy Communities (PDF) | Share this guide with individuals and organizations that work directly with parents, such as community-based organizations, spiritual leaders, health care providers, parent-teacher associations, afterschool programs, and early childhood educators. | |
| The Learning Connection (PDF) | What You Need to Know to Ensure Your Kids are Healthy and Ready to Learn | |
| National Standards for K-12 Physical Education (PDF) | Poster summarizing SHAPE America’s national standards for physical education | |
| Data Brief (PDF) | Indiana Youth Institute shares data about why health and physical education is important. | |
| Be a Backyard Advocate (PDF) | Learn how to speak out for quality health and physical education | |
| ESSA: Game Changer for Health and Physical Education (PDF) | Learn how ESSA impacts school health and physical education | |
| Indiana ESSA Plan (PDF) | The Indiana Department of Education has a plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act. | |
| ESSA, Title IV Fact Sheet (PDF) | More information about federal funding under ESSA | |
| Facts on Student Wellness (PDF) | Facts about student wellness, why physical activity and nutrition is important, and what schools can do to help. | |
| Sample Advocacy Letter (docx) | MS-Word document you can send to Governor, State Commissioner of Education, Department of Education, Superintendent, School District Leaders, Principal | |
| Nutrition, Activity, the Brain and Health (PDF) | Presentation at The Learning Connections Summit by Robert Murray, The Ohio State University | |
| ESSA: New Opportunities for Indiana (PowerPoint) | SHAPE America created this PowerPoint to explain how ESSA impacts health and physical education. | |
| Health & Physical Education Redefined (PowerPoint) | Advocacy presentation made to a local PTO (by Ball State students) | |
| Making Each Day Healthier for all Children (PDF) | Voices for Healthy Kids has released a report that highlights progress in the advocacy movement, including policy wins and a behind-the-scenes look at campaigns to increase health equity, improve access to healthy foods and physical activity, and improve the places where families live, learn, work, and play. | |
| Fundable Activities Infographic (PDF) | The Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative’s Healthy Schools Action Team has identified examples of fundable activities for school districts to consider when completing their application. | |
| Title IV, Part A Funding | See what each Indiana school district receives as a part of the Title IV, Part A funding. | |
| Contact Advocacy Committee | ||