The Quality of School Physical Activity Policies Within Maryland and Virginia.
BACKGROUND
Since the adoption of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, many researchers have examined changes in the school nutrition environment; however, far less research has focused on the evaluation of physical activity (PA) policies within public schools.


METHODS
School district wellness policies (n = 144) of Virginia and Maryland were coded using a previously validated audit tool with a scale of 0 (weakest, least comprehensive) to 1 (strongest, most comprehensive).


RESULTS
Mean policy strength was weak (.20 ± .15), and, on average, policies were moderately comprehensive (.40 ± .22). The strongest (.73 ± .44) and most comprehensive (.79 ± .40) policy subgroup addressed daily recess in elementary schools. Virginia had significantly higher scores in 9 policy groups, while Maryland had higher significant policy scores in the 2 following groups: (1) the strength and comprehensiveness of a written physical education (PE) curriculum for each grade level (Ps < .05) and (2) the strength and comprehensiveness of addressing the use of PE waivers (Ps < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
PA wellness policies in Maryland and Virginia are extremely weak and only moderately comprehensive; it is unlikely that these policies will significantly influence school-based PA.
Dept of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
Erin M
EM
Smith
Grace
G
Wilburn
Paul A
PA
Estabrooks
D015444:Exercise; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000592:standards*; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D014768:Virginia