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The SPARK Middle School Physical Education Program

Background:
M-SPAN (Middle School Physical Activity and Nutrition) was supported by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute from 1996-2000 and was the first scientific effort to study and evaluate this target population in physical education, physical activity and nutrition.

The M-SPAN staff worked with 24 middle schools encompassing nine urban and ethnically diverse school districts. Over 200 physical educators and administrators, and more than 24,000 students took part in the study.

Physical Education/Activity Goals:

1. Improve physical education content offerings and instructional methodology of teachers.
2. Create physical education staff development sessions which motivate teachers to embrace new ideas and apply those ideas to their teaching.
3. Increase physical activity opportunities on campus throughout the school day (before school, during lunch, after school) for all students.
4. Modify the school environment to make it more conducive to physical activity promotion and facilitate lasting change.

Results:

1. The staff development team conducted more than 30 workshops over a 2-year period of time for physical education specialists. Attendees evaluated these workshops and the M-SPAN program extremely favorably -- as they did the entire intervention approach.
2. Moderate to vigorous physical activity in physical education classes increased more than 18% in intervention schools, while going up 3% in controls (sites not receiving M-SPAN materials and training).
3. Many sites added physical activity options for students at various times of the school day and the advantages of collaboration with outside organizations and agencies was clearly demonstrated.

Due to these successes, The SPARK Programs staff are providing middle school curricula/training/consultation to physical educators nationwide.

Post Research Field-Testing:
Lessons learned from research were important. However, continuing to field-test The SPARK Programs throughout the country is equally valuable. The SPARK Programs for middle schools has been adopted by districts in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island NY; and in San Diego Unified, just to name a few. Additionally, District 18 in Brooklyn was awarded the largest PEP Bill grant to date in 2001-- and The SPARK Programs is playing a major role in their scope of work.

For more information on SPARK M-SPAN and/or a cost proposal specific to your needs, please contact us by phone (1-800-SPARK-PE) or by E-mail (spark@sparkpe.org).