Physical Education and Other Physical Activity Programs

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* 1. Thank you for taking the time to participate in the Panther Valley Healthy Schools survey.  Please select the answer that best describes you.

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* 2. Do all students in each grade receive physical education for at least 225 minutes per week throughout the school year?
NOTE:  Physical education classes should be spread over at least three days per week, with daily physical education preferable.

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* 3. How many total years of physical education are students at this school required to take?

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* 4. Does your school have a time requirement for the length of physical education classes?

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* 5.
Do physical education classes have a student/teacher ratio comparable to that of other classes?  NOTE: Aides and volunteers should not be counted as teachers in the student/teacher ratio.

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* 6.
Do all teachers of physical education use an age-appropriate, sequential (building on concepts from previous years) physical education curriculum that is consistent with state or national standards and the district's requirements for physical education?

National Standards for Physical Education
A physically literate individual:
1.  Demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
2.  Applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.
3.  Demonstrates the knowledge and skills and achieve and maintain and health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
4.  Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.
5.  Recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. 

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* 7. Are all teachers of physical education provided with the following information and materials to assist in delivering quality physical education?
*  Goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for physical education
*  A chart scope and sequence for instruction
*  A written physical education curriculum
*  A plan for assessing students performance
*  Physical activity monitoring devices, such as pedometers, heart rate monitors
*  Internet resources, such as SHAPE America online tools and resources or PE Central
*  The Presidential Youth Fitness Program
*  Protocols to assess or evaluate student performance in physical education
*  Learning activities that increase the amount of class time students are engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
*  Learning activities that actively engage students with long-term physical medical, or cognitive disabilities in physical education

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* 8. Do students earn grades for required physical education courses?  Do the grades carry the same weight as grades for other subjects toward academic recognition (e.g., honor roll, class rank)?

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* 9. Does the school prohibit exemptions or waivers for physical education?

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* 10. Does your school prohibit the substitution of other activities (e.g., interscholastic sports) for physical education class time or credit requirements?

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* 11. Do teachers keep students moderately to vigorously active for at least 50% of the time during most or all physical education class sessions?

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* 12. Do students design and implement their own individualized physical activity and fitness plans as part of the physical education program?  Do teachers of physical education provide ongoing feedback to students on progress in implementing their plans?

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* 13. Does the physical education program integrate the components of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP)?
*  Fitness assessment using Fitnessgram
*  Professional development for physical education teachers on proper use and integration of fitness education, fitness assessment, and recognition
*  Recognition of students meeting Healthy Fitness Zones or their physical activity goals

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* 14. Does the physical education program us three or more of the following methods to promote student participation in a variety of community physical activity options?
*  class discussions
*  bulletin boards
*  public address announcements
*  guest speakers who promote community programs
*  take-home flyers
*  homework assignments
*  newsletter articles
*  academic credit for participating in community physical activities and programs

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* 15. Are all physical education classes taught by licensed teachers who are certified or endorsed to teach physical education?

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* 16. Does the physical education program consistently use all or most of the following practices as appropriate to include students with special health care needs?
*  Encouraging active participation; modifying type, intensity, and length of activity if indicated in Individualized Education Plans, chronic health condition action plans, or 504 plans
*  Offering adapted physical education classes
*  Making necessary accommodations for students with special health care needs for participation in recess (e.g., game modifications)
*  Using modified equipment and facilities
*  Ensuring that students with chronic health conditions are fully participating in the physical activity as appropriate and when able
*  Monitoring signs and symptoms of chronic health conditions
*  Encouraging students to carry and self-administer their medications (including pre-medicating and/or responding to chronic health condition symptoms) in the gym and on playing fields; assisting students who do not self-carry
*  Encouraging students to actively engage in self-monitoring (i.e., using a peak flow meter, recognizing triggers) in the gym and on the playing fields (if the parent/guardian, health care provider, and school nurse so advise)
*  Using a second teacher, aide, physical therapist, or occupational therapist to assist students, as needed
*  Using peer teaching (e.g., teaming students without special health care needs with students who have such needs)

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* 17. Does the physical education program implement and enforce all of the following safety practices?
*  Practice active supervision
*  Encourage pro-social behaviors
*  Use protective clothing and safety gear that is appropriate to child's size and in good shape
*  Use safe, age-appropriate equipment
*  Minimize exposure to sun (including through use of sunscreen), smog, and extreme temperatures
*  Use infection control practices for handling blood and other body fluids
*  Monitor the environment to reduce exposure to potential allergens or irritants (e.g., pollen, bees, strong odors)

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* 18. Are all teachers (i.e., physical education teachers, classroom teachers) required to participate at least once a year in professional development in physical education?

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* 19. Are classroom teachers required to participate at least once a year in professional development on promoting and integrating physical activity in the classroom?

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* 20. Do both boys and girls participate in school-sponsored or community-based intramural programs or physical activity clubs either in school or outside of school?

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* 21. Does your school offer at least eight different interscholastic sports to both boys and girls?

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* 22. Does your school promote or support walking and bicycling to and/or from school in the following ways?
*  Designation of safe or preferred routes to school
*  Promotional activities such as participation in International Walk to School Week, National Walk and Bike to School Week
*  Secure store facilities for bicycles and helmets (e.g., shed, cage, fenced area)
*  Instruction on walking/bicycling safety provided to students
*  Promotion of safe routes program to students, staff and parents via newsletters, websites, local newspaper
*  Crossing guards
*  Crosswalks on streets leading to schools
*  Walking school buses
*  Documentation of number of children walking and/or biking to and from school
*  Creation and distribution of maps of school environment (sidewalks, crosswalks, roads, pathways, bike racks, etc.)

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* 23. Does your school offer opportunities for all students to participate in physical activity before and after school, through organized physical activities (such as physical activity clubs, intramural sports, before school physical activity)?

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* 24. Are all students provided opportunities to participate in physical activity breaks in classrooms, outside of physical education, recess, and class transition periods?
NOTE:  Physical activity breaks (e.g., brain breaks, energizers, classroom activity breaks, etc.) are actual breaks that occur in the academic classroom, allowing students to take a mental and physical break from current academic tasks.  These breaks can occur at any time during the school day, last from 5 - 30 minutes, and occur all at one time or several times during the school day.

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* 25. Are your physical activity facilities adequate in all of the following ways?
*  Both indoor and outdoor spaces can be used by physical education classes, intramural programs or physical activity clubs, and interscholastic sports programs?
*  Indoor facilities exist so that physical education classes do not have to be canceled due to weather extremes (e.g., rain or temperature extremes)
*  In physical education classes, all students can be physically active without overcrowding or safety risks
*  Facilities are accessible for persons with disabilities
*  For physical activity clubs and interscholastic sports, all interested students can sign up and participate without overcrowding or safety risks

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* 26. Does your school or district require all interscholastic sports coaches to have training in the sport(s) they coach that reflects competency in the skills and knowledge outlined in the National Standards for Sports Coaches?

National Standards for Sports Coaches
The 40 standards are grouped into the following 8 domains:
1.  Philosophy and ethics
2.  Safety and injury prevention
3.  Physical conditioning
4.  Growth and development
5.  Teaching and communication
6.  Sports skills and tactics
7.  Organization and administration
8.  Evaluation

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* 27. Does the school ensure that spaces and facilities for physical activity meet or exceed recommended safety standards for design, installation, and maintenance, in the following ways?
*  Regular inspection and repair of indoor and outdoor playing surfaces, including those on playgrounds and sports fields
*  Regular inspection and repair of physical activity equipment such as balls, jump ropes, nets, cardiovascular machines, weights, and weight lifting machines
*  Padded goal posts and gym walls
*  Breakaway bases for baseball and softball
*  Securely anchored portable soccer goals that are stored in a locked facility when not in use
*  Bleachers that minimize the risk for falls
*  Slip-resistant surfaces near swimming pool use
*  Pools designed, constructed, and retrofitted to eliminate entrapment use
NOTE:  Please disregard any standard that is not relevant for your campus.

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* 28. Does your school athletic program implement and enforce all the following safety requirements?
*  Require physical examination by physician before participation
*  Avoid excesses in training regime that may result in injuries (e.g., heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration, sprains, strains)
*  Establish criteria, including clearance by a health-care provider, before allowing further participation in practice or reentry into game play after a head injury
*  Reward good sportsmanship, teamwork, and adherence to safety rules
*  Strictly enforce prohibitions against alcohol and drug use
*  Strictly enforce prohibitions against violence and aggression by students, spectators, coaches, and other persons during sporting events
*  Strictly enforce prohibitions against dangerous athletic behaviors (e.g., spearing in football, high sticking in  hockey, throwing bat in baseball)
*  Report all sports-related injuries to the appropriate authority

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* 29. Thanks again for participating.  Please provide any comments or feedback regarding any of the survey questions and/or suggestions on how to improve the health and wellness of Panther Valley.

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