Effects of health-related physical education on academic achievement: Project SPARK

The effects of a 2-year health-related school physical education program on standardized academic achievement scores was assessed in 759 children who completed Metropolitan Achievement Tests before and after the program. Scho ols were randomly assigned to condition: (a) Specialists taught the Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids curriculum (b) classroom teachers wer e trained to implement the curriculum; and (c) controls continued their usu al programs. The Trained Teacher condition was superior to Control an Langu age, Reading, and Basic Battery. The Specialist condition was superior to C ontrol on Reading; but inferior on Language. Despite devoting twice as many minutes per week to physical education as Controls, the health-related phy sical education program did not interfere with academic achievement. Health -related physical education may have favorable effects on students' academi c achievement.