Spartanburg Charter School

SCS will teach thirty minutes of daily physical education to all students and will include at least 30 minutes of recess each day for all children. We believe that healthy kids make better students and that better students make healthy communities. The American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend one hour of moderate physical activity most days, preferably all days, per week for children and adolescents, and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends P.E. for a minimum of 150 minutes per week for elementary children and 225 minutes per week for adolescents in middle and high school.
In addition to prevention of medical problems, research supports that daily physical education is directly linked to higher achievement in academics. For example, in 2002 the California Department of Education released the results of its analysis of 940,000 students in grades 5,7, and 9. Data included SAT 9 Mathematics and Readings tests and a fitnessgram. The results indicated that at all grade levels higher achievement in reading and math was associated with higher levels of fitness—the higher the level of fitness, the higher the level of achievement.
Recess is separate and distinct from physical education and is an essential component of the total educational experience for SCS students. Recess provides children with discretionary time and opportunities to engage in physical activity that help to develop healthy bodies and enjoyment of movement. It also children to practice life skills such as conflict resolution, cooperation, respect for rules, taking turns, sharing, using language to communicate, and problem solving in real situations. Furthermore, recess may facilitate improved attention and focus on learning in the academic program.

Consistent with recommendations by the Council on Physical Education for Children (COPEC):

• Recess will not replace physical education
• Use of facilities for recess activities will not interfere with instructional classes
• SCS will not deny recess as a means of punishment or to make up work
• Faculty will reinforce use of positive skills for self-responsibility during recess
• Faculty will intervene when a child’s physical or emotional safety is an issue

For more information see:

National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE)
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/template.cfm?template=childrenPe.html