A Rigorous Evaluation of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Education Outcomes

NCT03765047 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: IRB0009560074281
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 4,968
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study is a prospective study to examine the impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fourth and fifth grade elementary students' academic achievement, as measured by standardized test scores.

Conditions

Physical Activity

Keywords

Standardized Test Score; Academic Achievement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in the Georgia Milestones standardized test scores in math

  The Georgia Milestones comprehensive summative assessment is administered annually in the spring for students in grades 3 to 8. The test was first used in Spring 2015 and is the best objective universal indicator of students' academic performance in Georgia. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The tests are scored with four achievement levels. Level 1: Beginning Learner, Level 2: Developing Learner, Level 3: Proficient Learner, and Level 4: Distinguished Learner. For grade 3 the scores for the different levels of math are 290-474, 475-524, 525-579, and 580-705; for grade 4, 270-474, 475-524, 525-584, and 580-715; for grade 5, 265-474, 475-524, 525-579, and 580-725, respectively. The scores from the 3rd grade (pre-intervention) are compared to scores at the end of 4th and 5th grades.

  Up to 2 years

• Change in the Georgia Milestones standardized test scores in reading

  The Georgia Milestones comprehensive summative assessment is administered annually in the spring for students in grades 3 to 8. The test was first used in Spring 2015 and is the best objective universal indicator of students' academic performance in Georgia. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.The tests are scored with 4 achievement levels. Level 1: Beginning Learner, Level 2: Developing Learner, Level 3: Proficient Learner, and Level 4: Distinguished Learner. For grade 3 the scores for the different levels for reading are 180-474, 475-524, 525-580, and 581-830; for grade 4, 210-474, 475-524, 525-573, and 574-775; for grade 5, 210-474, 475-524, 525-586, and 587-760, respectively. The scores from the 3rd grade assessment (pre-intervention) are compared to scores at the end of 4th and 5th grades.

  Up to 2 years

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in the Lexile/reading level for language arts

  Up to 2 years

• Change in the class grades for reading

  Up to 2 years

• Change in the class grades for math

  Up to 2 years

• Number of Disciplinary Referrals

  Up to 2 years

• Number of days of absence

  Up to 2 years

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

This study arm includes the schools where the School Team (school teachers, coordinator) receives the physical activity intervention. The intervention consists of four parts: 1. School Engagement and Assessment 2. Training 3. Physical Activity Equipment and Resources 4. Ongoing Assessment and Technical Assistance

Behavioral: Intervention Arm

Control Arm

NO INTERVENTION

The control arm includes the schools where the School Team does not receive any intervention but all the necessary data will be collected.

Interventions

Intervention Arm BEHAVIORAL

The physical activity intervention consists of: 1. School Engagement and Assessment - Based on the customized assessment, training is provided for school staff to develop the capacity to increase PA. A school PA team is established. 2. Training - School teams are provided with ongoing in-person and virtual training to learn strategies for increasing PA before and during the school day. A training summit meeting will occur each summer, starting with the summer prior to the intervention. Teams will create a weekly calendar of activities to increase PA time to a minimum of 40 mts/day. 3. PA Equipment and Resources - After training, schools are provided with PA equipment, resources and teaching aids to facilitate the integration of PA into the school day. 4. Ongoing Assessment and Technical Assistance - Student accelerometer data will allow for monitoring of PA levels, so that additional technical assistance for classroom teachers can be provided if needed

Intervention Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• th grade students from the elementary schools in the Gwinnett County district

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emory University: lead
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Gwinnett County Elementary Schools

Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30044, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Behringer HK, Saksvig ER, Boedeker PJ, Elish PN, Kay CM, Calvert HG, Meyer AM, Gazmararian JA. Physical activity and academic achievement: an analysis of potential student- and school-level moderators. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Aug 30;19(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01348-3.

  PMID: 36042515 DERIVED

• Elish PN, Bryan CS, Boedeker PJ, Calvert HG, Kay CM, Meyer AM, Gazmararian JA. The longitudinal association between objectively-measured school-day physical activity and academic achievement in US elementary school students. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Jul 23;19(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01328-7.

  PMID: 35870926 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Julie Gazmararian, PhD/MPH

  Emory University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2018
• First Posted: December 5, 2018
• Study Start: August 6, 2018
• Primary Completion: June 19, 2020
• Study Completion: June 19, 2020
• Last Updated: July 14, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-07

Locations

US (1)