title: The association of state law to physical education time allocation in US public schools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether public schools in states with specific and stringent physical education (PE) laws, as assessed by the Physical Education-Related State Policy Classification System (PERSPCS), available on the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.) Web site, reported more weekly PE time in the most recent School Health Policies and Programs Survey (SHPPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Schools (n=410) were grouped by their state's PERSPCS time requirement scores (none, nonspecific requirement, or specific requirement). Average weekly school-level PE was calculated using the SHPPS-reported PE minutes. Weighted analyses determined if PE minutes/week differed by PERSPCS group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schools in states with specific requirement laws averaged over 27 and 60 more PE minutes/week at the elementary and middle school levels, respectively, compared with schools within states with nonspecific laws and over 40 and 60 more PE minutes per week, respectively, compared with elementary and middle schools in states with no laws. High school results were nonsignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children, and PE may further this goal. Strong codified law with specific time requirements for PE may be an important tool contributing toward adequate PE time and daily physical activity recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviors Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-7236, USA. pernafm@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jamie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chriqui
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mâsse
authors.forename: Audie A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Atienza
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nebeling
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agurs-Collins
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Dodd
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States