Examining the Relationship between Physical Activity and Student Achievement and Behavior: Results from a Three-Year Intervention

This study examines the relationship between physical activity (PA) levels and academic achievement and student behavior in schools that completed a three-year initiative to increase and improve PA for students. Using difference-in-difference and discontinuity analyses, we find schools that participated in a PA intervention saw greater academic achievement during the three years of PA programming as compared to non-participating schools. The significant effects of the intervention were realized during the first year of programming; subsequent years saw stable achievement but not significant growth. There did not, however, appear to be differences in maladaptive student behavior between schools based on participation in the PA intervention.