Special Funding Opportunity: Physical Education Quality Improvement
Final application deadline: Feb. 15, 2012.
Overview
Background Information
Selection Criteria
How to Apply
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
The Colorado Health Foundation believes that if kids attend a "healthy school" where they are served healthy meals, have opportunities for physical activity and access to basic health care, then they are better able to learn and maintain healthy habits into adulthood. Providing students with high-quality physical education is one component of an overall healthy school, and offers a meaningful opportunity to improve student fitness and learning. The Foundation invites school districts to submit applications to increase the number of students who engage in moderate or vigorous physical activity by improving the quality of physical education.
School districts would receive up to three years of funding for physical education quality improvement. Specifically, the school district would implement curriculum that aligns with the new Colorado Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standards. Grants could support training, technical assistance, curriculum, equipment, fitness assessments, evaluation and project coordination. If funded, districts must:
- Attend an introductory training in the new Colorado Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standards
- Complete the Colorado Academic Standards Crosswalk for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to guide the selection of appropriate curriculum
- Select from the list of
eligible curricula identified as evidence-based by the American Heart Association Science Review and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation or choose to develop district curriculum that is aligned with the new state standards
- Develop a budget to support implementation of selected curriculum
- Complete training in selected curriculum
- Report on the number of students participating in classrooms implementing the new curriculum and the average amount of time dedicated to physical education
See the FAQ for more information about qualified curricula and required training and evaluation components.
Background Information
High-quality physical education programs help increase levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity during class time. Such programs are inclusive, fun, safe and developmentally and culturally appropriate. In addition to the numerous health benefits from a quality physical education program, research supports an association between school-based physical activity, including physical education and academic performance.
In Colorado, 28.7 percent of children 2-14 years of age are overweight or obese. Obese children face a risk of becoming obese adults and developing serious health consequences. Combating obesity requires a multi-pronged approach, including education around physical activity and healthy eating and creation of opportunities to take action. Offering physical activity opportunities in schools supports one essential piece of an overall healthy lifestyle for Colorado's children.
Nationally, only 5 percent of students get the recommended amount of physical activity in schools. Moreover, most time during physical education is spent being sedentary; only four minutes of every half hour involves vigorous activity and approximately 30 to 40 percent of class time is spent in moderate or vigorous physical activity.
In Colorado and around the country, schools are faced with making difficult decisions about how to offer physical education and physical activity time given budget constraints, scheduling for core academics and the pressures of standardized testing. Despite these challenges, the Foundation believes that there is an opportunity to help students be more active during the time available, to improve their health and to improve their ability to learn.
Selection Criteria
Grants will be awarded based on the following criteria:
- Applicants must be a school district or charter school;
- Demonstrated need. Districts and schools with 40 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced lunch (based on October 2009 student counts) will receive priority attention;
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to physical education quality improvement;
- Commitment to fulfill required trainings, program activities and evaluation activities;
- Plans for sustainability after the grant period ends.
How to Apply
To apply, please use the Foundation's standard online grant application. Final application deadline: Feb. 15, 2012. In addition to our standard application, please include the following:
- One letter of support signed by the superintendent, curriculum and instruction director and/or district physical education coordinator showing commitment to fulfill project goals and requirements
- Signed agreement to engage in required trainings, program activities and evaluation activities if funded
Districts will not be required to submit a project budget at the time of application. Foundation staff will work with approved districts to develop a project budget after the district has undergone training in the new Colorado Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standards and has selected a curriculum and evaluation approach. Please see the FAQ to find out more about the different eligible curricula, training opportunities and evaluation tools.
For questions and technical support regarding your application, please email questions to Hillary Fulton, program officer or call 303.953.3626.
Additional Resources