Table 1 Summary of provincial daily physical activity policies
Province | Grade | Minutes and distribution | Type of PA | Delivery of PA1 | Strength2 | Date adopted3 | Date implemented | Key adoption factors | Monitoring of implementation and impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Innovators 2003-2006 | |||||||||
Grades 1-9 | ≥30 mins/d; may be offered in smaller time segments | PA should vary in form and intensity | Activities organized by the school; can include instructional or non-instructional hours (school-based) | Weak | Aug, 2003 | Sept, 2005 | Convergence of Kingdon’s 3 policy streams: problem, solution, and policy; strongly influenced by the actions of the Minister of Learning | School authorities responsible to monitor implementation; DPA survey of educators conducted by AB Education | |
Grades 1-8 | ≥20 mins/d; sustained | Sustained MVPA | During instructional hours | Moderate | Oct, 2005 | Oct, 2005, with full implementation by end of 2005/06 school year | DPA in schools was part of the 1998 Health and PE curriculum, the Active2010 sport and PA strategy and Living School, and was supported by the Chief Medical Officer of Health | School Boards responsible to monitor DPA implementation | |
Early adopters, 2006-2010 | |||||||||
Grades 11-12 | 1 PE/Health Education credit required per grade including PA practicum of ≥ 55 hrs | PA practicum focusses on MVPA + ≥ 1 of: strength, endurance, flexibility | In-, out- or a combination of in- and out-of-class/school time with adult sign off for out-of-class/school PA | Moderate | Apr, 2007 | Sept, 2008 | The Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force Report recommended mandating PE for grades 11-12 | Students must complete a personal fitness portfolio; teachers document student-level completion on report cards | |
Kinder-garten | 15 mins/d (half-day)30 mins/d (full day); may be offered in smaller time segments of ≥ 10 mins | Includes endurance, strength and/or flexibility activities | Part of students’ educational program; can include instructional or non-instructional hours (school-based) | Weak | Sept, 2007 | Sept, 2008 | Action Schools! BC was an early model of DPA that proved efficacious and was disseminated across BC | School Boards develop their own policies and procedures to track DPA implementation; teachers document student-level achievement on term and final report cards | |
Grades 1-7 | 30 mins/d; may be offered in smaller time segments of ≥ 10 mins | Includes endurance, strength and/or flexibility activities | Part of students’ educational program; can include instructional or non-instructional hours (school-based) | Weak | Sept, 2007 | Sept, 2008 | Action Schools! BC was an early model of DPA that proved efficacious and was disseminated across BC | School Boards develop their own policies and procedures to track DPA implementation; teachers document student-level achievement on term and final report cards | |
Grades 8-9 | 30 mins/d; may be offered in smaller time segments of ≥ 10 mins OR 150 mins/wk | Includes endurance, strength and/or flexibility activities OR MVPA | Part of students’ educational program; can include instructional or non-instructional hours (school-based) OR In- or out- of school PA documented by student | Weak | Sept, 2007 | Sept, 2008; as of Sept, 2011 schools select 30 mins/d DPA OR 150 mins MVPA/wk | Action Schools! BC was an early model of DPA that proved efficacious and was disseminated across BC | School Boards develop their own policies and procedures to track DPA implementation; teachers document student-level achievement on term and final report cards | |
Grades 10-12 | 150 mins/wk | MVPA | In- or out- of school PA documented by student | Moderate | Sept, 2007 | Sept, 2008 | Action Schools! BC was an early model of DPA that proved efficacious and was disseminated across BC | School Boards develop their own policies and procedures to track DPA implementation; teachers document student-level achievement on term and final report cards; graduation requirement | |
Early majority, 2010 - 2014 | |||||||||
All students | 30 mins/d | MVPA | Not specified; School Boards expected to develop new or strengthen existing PA policies consistent with general government guidelines | Weak | Feb, 2010 | Sept, 2010 (optional) | The SK population health strategy, SK in motion, and implementation of Quality Daily PE focused attention on the need for greater PA in schools | School Boards responsible to ensure that policy results in increased PA for all children | |