Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP)

A Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (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: quality physical education as the foundation, physical activity before, during, and after school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.¹ Students can accumulate the recommended amount of physical activity through the provision of the multi-component CSPAP.^1,2,3

CDC, in collaboration with SHAPE America, developed a step-by-step guide [PDF - 6MB] for schools and school districts to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school physical activity programs. The guide can be read and utilized by an existing school health council or wellness committee, or by a new group or committee made up of physical education coordinators and teachers, classroom teachers, school administrators, recess supervisors, before- and after-school program supervisors, parents, and community members. It can be used to develop a new comprehensive school physical activity program or assess and improve an existing one.

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program: A Guide for Schools [EPUB - 4.5MB] National Framework for Physical Activity and Physical Education & Resources to Support CSPAP [EPUB - 1.9MB]

The CSPAP eBook can be viewed on your iOS (iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch) or Android device with an eReader. An eReader is an app that can display eBooks on your mobile device or tablet.

If you do not have an eReader app installed on your iOS (iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch) device, search the App Store for an eReader, like iBooks. If you do not have an eReader app installed on your Android device, search the Google Play Store for an eReader.

After an eReader app is installed on your device, you can download the eBook and open it on your device.

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) [PDF - 6MB]

National Framework for Physical Activity and Physical Education & Resources to Support CSPAP [PDF - 1.7MB]

CSPAP Guide Checklist [PDF - 256KB]

Table 2. Template for Vision Statement, Goals, and Objectives. [PDF - 763KB]

Table 3. Questions to Identify School Resources [PDF - 271KB]

Table 4. Planning Chart for CSPAP Program [PDF - 303KB]

Table 5. Template for CSPAP Budget [PDF - 320KB]

Table 6. Template for CSPAP Implementation Plan [PDF - 639KB]

1. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Comprehensive school physical activity programs. Reston, VA: National Association for Sport and Physical Education; 2008. Available at http://www.shapeamerica.org/cspap/resources.cfm
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School health guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity. MMWR 2011;60(No. RR-5):28–33.
3. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Subcommittee of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012.