CSPAP
- What is CSPAP?
- Why CSAP?
- Where do I start?
- National Programs
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- National & State Standards
- Online Community
- Join the Community
National Framework
Learn more about the National Framework
Needing Support?
Find out why you need a CSPAP program at your school.
What is CSPAP?
Schools play a vital role in ensuring children and adolescents get the nationally recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Through the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, schools can provide many opportunities for students to be physically active. The WSCC model includes physical education and physical activity and the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) is a framework for planning and organizing activities this component. A CSPAP is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during, and after school; staff involvement; and family and community engagement.
CDC, in collaboration with SHAPE America, developed a step-by-step guide for schools and school districts to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school physical activity programs.
The goals of a CSPAP are:
- To provide a variety of school-based physical activities to enable all students to participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day.
- To provide coordination among the CSPAP components to maximize understanding, application, and practice of the knowledge and skills learned in physical education.
Physical education
Physical education is an academic subject and serves as the foundation of a CSPAP. Physical education provides students with a planned sequential K-12 standards-based program of curricula and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for healthy active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence. The essential components of a physical education program include policies and environment, curriculum, appropriate instruction and student assessment. The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) is a self-assessment and planning guide developed by CDC. It is designed to help school districts and schools conduct clear, complete, and consistent analyses of physical education curricula, based upon national physical education standards.
Physical activity before and after school
Physical activity during school
Family and community engagement
Staff Involvement
Useful Information
- The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model
- School Health Guidelines
- Educating the Student Body Report
- CSPAP Policy Continuum
- State School Health Policy Matrix
- Virtual Healthy School
- Association Between School-based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education and Academic Performance
- Improving Academic Achievement through Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
