The Curriculum Matters blog covered an analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today, which found a positive association between physical activity and academic performance. Published this past April, the CDC analyzed 50 studies that contained 251 associations between activity and academic performance; more than half of the associations were found to be positive. The analysis concluded that:
- Physical activity can help improve academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores
- Physical activity can have an impact on cognitive skills, attitudes, and academic behavior, such as enhanced concentration and attention
- Increasing or maintaining time dedicated to PE may help–and not does appear to adversely impact–academic performance
Based on this evidence, the CDC encourages schools to continue and encourage school-based PE, recess, classroom-based physical activity, and extracurricular physical activities.
This study comes on the heels of the House passing the FIT Kids Act (Fitness Integrated with Teaching) that mandates schools report on how they promote healthy lifestyles and implement their PE curriculum.
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