Program Evaluation of an In-school Daily Physical Activity Initiative

A Program Evaluation of an In-school Daily Physical Activity Initiative for Children and Youth

The school system is one setting in which children's physical activity levels may be increased through daily physical activity (DPA) policies and initiatives. Adherence to DPA policies is typically poor and results are limited in regard to the associated benefits for participating children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a range of psychosocial outcomes following a community-led, in-school DPA initiative for 9-14 year old children and youth. This program evaluation examined the impact of a DPA program consisting of 20 minutes of teacher-led DPA for 20 consecutive weeks. Student outcomes were measured using a questionnaire administered at three time points: baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. A teacher questionnaire regarding program adherence and student behaviour was completed at post-intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants will include males and females between the ages of 9-14.
• Participants must be enrolled in one of 30 elementary school classes across the participating seven elementary schools.
• Participants need to be able to read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants not enrolled in one of the participating classes.
• Unable to read and write in English.