Prioritize Physical Activity in Schools

DPH’s Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Section (NPAO) leads efforts to improve policy, communication and overall collaboration between partners working on prioritizing physical activity in schools. DPH also provides technical assistance, support, and training to schools on SC FitnessGram.

For more information on prioritizing physical activity in schools, contact Erica Ayers at ayersee@dph.sc.gov. 

Local Wellness Policies

• S.C. Department of Education Local Wellness Policies - The S.C. Department of Education Office of Health and Nutrition leads the Local Wellness Policy State Technical Assistance Team which provides assistance to school districts on local wellness policies.
• SC School Boards Association Model District Wellness Policy (ADF)

Open Community Use

• Breaking Physical Activity Barriers through Open Community Use Playbook - The Breaking Physical Activity Barriers through Open Community Use Playbook provides a detailed guide for communities to use to promote the open community use of school recreational areas.

School Health Partners 

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation - A national non-profit that envisions a world where every mind, every body, every young person is healthy and ready to succeed. Healthier Generation collaborates with and empowers people and leaders to transform the environments that can make a difference in a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities.
• SpringBoard to Active Schools supports state departments of health and education to promote active school environments in school districts and schools across the country. Grounded in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, an active school environment (also known as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program) is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active. This includes:
  • Physical education,
  • Physical activity during school,
  • Physical activity before and after school,
  • Staff involvement, and
  • Family and community engagement.
• SC Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and SC Schools Network - The SC Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness aims to enhance the health and well-being of all South Carolinians by improving access to physical activity. NPAO staff serve as the Executive Director of the Council. Together with the SC Schools Network – a workgroup of Wholespire – the Council facilitates collaboration among public health and education partners working to improve student health and academic success. An example of this collaboration is the Connecting Communities and Schools webinar series. 

SC FitnessGram

SC FitnessGram is a statewide movement to evaluate and improve the health-related fitness among public school students in South Carolina. Participating schools annually collect fitness data of students in grades 2, 5, 8, and high school. The findings from this initiative are used to support programs and policies at the state, community, and school levels to improve student health from head to heart. 

Learn more about the SC FitnessGram movement.