Policy strategies to improve physical activity and education in schools: Lessons learned from the community-driven work of the Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) grantee of Baldwin Park

Improving physical education programs and physical activity environments for students is critical to improving student fitness levels. The approach to improving physical activity in schools is much stronger when teachers, administrators and students direct the change. Engaging advocates at all these levels becomes a powerful way to assure that changes meet the needs of those affected, and that changes have support from key stakeholders. The California Endowment funded the community of Baldwin Park within the HEAC (Healthy Eating Active Community) initiative to engage the community in improving food and activity environments for youth. The Baldwin Park HEAC collaborative has given advocates the tools and opportunities to improve the physical activity environment of schools, among other community settings. This presentation will reveal the tools, strategies, and lessons learned from Baldwin Park HEAC's efforts to engage teachers, administrators and students in improving the school physical activity environment. Key strategies that will be highlighted include: a) developing teacher trainings on Physical Education standards and accountability, b) creating PE curriculum guides for grades K-6, c) the development of a committee (representing every school in the district) to improve the current PE program, and d) developing a task force to restructure high school PE. These strategies have resulted in such successes as positioning the district to more effectively use block grant funds to provide K-12 standards-based PE curriculum, equipment and materials. Other successes and challenges, and lessons learned around engaging stakeholders in developing, advocating for and implementing these policy strategies will help other communities to improve their school physical activity environment through sustainable policy efforts.