title: School reform: the role of physical education policy in physical activity of elementary school children in Alabama's Black Belt Region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the implementation of state- and school-mandated physical education (PE) and physical activity policies on students' school-day physical activity behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five elementary schools in rural Alabama.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and eighty-three school-age children.
  
  
  METHODS
  School-day physical activity behaviors were assessed with pedometer step count, the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT), and the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) were used to describe the current health and in-school physical activity behaviors of students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students accumulated a daily average of 4079.57 (± 1678.1) and 3473.44 (± 1073.37) steps for boys and girls, respectively, throughout the school day. SOFIT findings indicate that students spent an average of 23.80 ± 5.33 min/d in PE and that 14.33 ± 6.10 min/d were spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This equates to 59.38% of PE time spent in MVPA. SOPLAY findings showed that recess and before/after school activity was not provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that schools were in compliance with the state-mandated PE policies on paper but not in actuality. Students did not attend PE for 30 min/d. The implementation of PE as the sole physical activity opportunity provides inadequate amounts of physical activity during the school day.
authors.forename: Leah E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Danielle D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Wadsworth
authors.forename: E Kipling
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bassett
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016134:Organizational Policy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors