LA RENEW: Improving school physical education through a teacher mentoring program

BACKGROUND: Physical education (PE) in school is often the only opportunity many children, especially from lower income communities, have to be physically active. Funded by CPPW, Renew Environments for Nutrition, Exercise & Wellness (RENEW) in Los Angeles County implemented a teacher mentoring program in low income schools to improve PE, which provided trainings and materials for evidence based PE requirements. This evaluation assessed the outcomes of the RENEW PE program. METHODS: Evaluators visited a random sample of 33 schools participating in the RENEW PE program and 14 control schools across six school districts in Los Angeles County. Data were collected using 1) the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time to determine amount of class time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 2) direct observation of PE class length, content and size, and 3) interviews with teachers documenting PE curriculum used, class frequency, and the effect of RENEW training on their classes. RESULTS: Preliminary results reveal that RENEW schools provide PE for a similar amount of time as control schools, but RENEW schools are more likely than control schools to utilize an evidence based PE curriculum and offer specialized PE classes. Teachers at RENEW schools reported improving their PE classes based on the trainings and materials. Further findings will be presented including percent of class time spent in MVPA. DISCUSSION: This study provides much-needed evidence as to whether provision of PE mentoring program improves quality and quantity of PE, and subsequently the health and physical fitness of students.