This study investigated whether school district-level compliance with California physical education policies was associated with physical fitness among 5th-grade public-school students in California.
Cross-sectional data from FITNESSGRAM庐 2004-2006, district-level compliance with state physical education requirements for 2004-2006, school- and district-level information, and 2000 U.S. Census data were combined to examine the association between district-level compliance with physical education policies and children's fitness levels. The analysis was completed in 2010.
Of the 55 districts with compliance data, 28 (50%) were in compliance with state physical education mandates; these districts represented 21%(216) of schools and 18%(n=16,571) of students in the overall study sample. Controlling for other student-, school-, and district-level characteristics, students in policy-compliant districts were more likely than students in noncompliant districts to meet or exceed physical fitness standards (AOR=1.29, 95%CI=1.03, 1.61).
Policy mandates for physical education in schools may contribute to improvements in children's fitness levels, but their success is likely to depend on mechanisms to ensure compliance.