Texas Recommendations for Offering Physical Activity Outside of the School Day

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Since 2001, physical activity requirements for Texas schools have been in place.

Still if students are not meeting requirements for daily physical activity, other programs–such as after school programs–should provide them with an opportunity to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity.

The following recommendations, created in November 2008, were provided in response to Texas SB 530, which was passed at the 80th legislation session.

The bill requires that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in consultation with the Texas School Health Advisory Council (TSHAC)  provide a report to the legislation, that details options for students to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity, outside the seven-hour instructional school day.

The recommendations suggest that schools follow existing state mandates for physical activity and physical education, that physical activity be included as part of coordinated school health, and that children get at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

The guidelines also state that in-school and out-of-school programs should follow appropriate standards, such as those set by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE); and that nutrition standards should also be integrated into after school programs.

Suggested evaluation methods for physical activity programs include: SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) and Fitnessgram.

Click here or on the document above to view the full recommendations.