Work

Lessons Learned: A Strategic Alliance to Improve Elementary Physical Education in an Urban School District

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physical education (PE) can help to achieve important public health goals, but is often under-prioritized and lacking in schools. OBJECTIVES: To detail the actions, impact, and successes of a strategic alliance formed by three collaborating organizations to improve PE in a large California school district. METHODS: Semistructured interviews with alliance members, principals, and teachers in 20 elementary schools, 3 years after the alliance formation. LESSONS LEARNED: Interviewees reported district-level increases in priority and funding for PE and attributed improvements to the alliance's collection and dissemination of local data on the status of PE. Common goals, trust, and open communication within the alliance were seen as critical to the alliance's success. However, changes in district- or school-level accountability measures for PE were not reported. CONCLUSIONS: This strategic alliance succeeded in promoting district-level priority and funding for PE. Ongoing alliance work will focus on increasing accountability measures for PE, which may take longer to implement.

Source: Progress in community health partnerships

DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0058

Authors: Hannah R. Thompson, Robin Haguewood, Nicole Tantoco, Kristine A. Madsen

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: School Health and Nursing Education

Subfield: Speech and Hearing

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion