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Date of Graduation

5-2028

Description

Regular physical activity is critical for children's health and development, yet most U.S. children fall short of recommended daily activity levels. Schools represent a key opportunity to address this gap through PE and recess, though state policies governing these vary widely. This cross-sectional study compared school-based physical activity in Arkansas and Oklahoma, two states with distinct policies. Arkansas mandates 40 minutes of daily recess and 40 minutes of PE per week, while Oklahoma requires 60 minutes of weekly PE and 60 minutes of additional weekly physical activity but does not mandate recess. Surveys were distributed to principals and PE teachers at randomly sampled elementary schools. Results from 35 Arkansas and 14 Oklahoma schools revealed notable differences. All Arkansas schools met the 40-minute weekly PE threshold, and 86% met the 40-minute daily recess requirement. Oklahoma schools generally met PE minimums, but only 21% reported 40 or more minutes of daily recess, with most reporting just 20–29 minutes. These findings suggest that more specific state mandates, like Arkansas's, correlate with greater compliance and consistency in school-based physical activity. Clearer policy language may be a critical lever for improving children's daily activity levels and should inform future legislation and school health interventions.

Publication Date

2026

Document Type

Book

Degree Name

Exercise Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Howie Hickie, Erin

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine

Keywords

Research-Based

State-Level Variations in School Physical Activity Policies and Their Impact on Student Physical Activity in Arkansas and Oklahoma

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