August 12, 2008

Purdue, Lafayette School Corp. partner to improve students' physical activity

The project, called Making Physically Active Lafayette Students through Partnerships, is a three-year initiative that seeks to help more Lafayette School Corp. students maintain physically active lifestyles and meet Indiana standards for physical education.

The project is funded through a $660,000 grant from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program in the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant will be used to purchase pedometers and heart rate monitors that can be used in elementary through junior high school physical education classes. Also, new fitness centers will be outfitted at Tecumseh Junior High School and Sunnyside Middle School. A large part of the project will involve offering professional development opportunities to Lafayette School Corp. physical educators. The teachers will work with physical education experts from Purdue and elsewhere to implement novel physical education curricula that promote active living.

The Tippecanoe County Health Department also is involved with the project. A youth physical activity task force will be formed, which will include members of the partnership, students, parents and others who will examine how youth physical activity is promoted and supported in the community.

The project director is John Layton, assistant superintendent and director of personnel at Lafayette School Corp. Alan Smith, associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, leads the Purdue team that will direct the teacher education and program evaluation components.

Writers: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Alan L. Smith, (765) 496-6002, alsmith7@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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