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Burnout is an increasingly prevalent issue among school staff throughout the USA and is associated with a range of negative personal and professional outcomes. School communities are also affected, as teacher burnout has been shown to be associated with worse student outcomes and teacher retention. Prior research has identified several risk factors for burnout, including low connectedness, poor psychological safety, and unsupportive administrative leadership. The present study examines the relative salience of each for their impact on burnout over a 4-year period. Survey data come from staff (n = 769) from 20 rural Idaho schools, with data collected annually each spring from 2019 to 2022. Measures included the burnout dimension of emotional exhaustion, as well as connectedness, psychological safety, and transformational leadership from validated scales. Latent growth models assessed changes in burnout over time, with demographic characteristics as time-invariant covariates and hypothesized risk factors as time-varying covariates. The results showed a significant increase in burnout over the study period, with the fully adjusted model indicating that burnout was predicted by connectedness in all four waves, as well as by psychological safety and leadership in selected single waves. The results suggest that fostering integration and positive relationships among school members may be more effective than other approaches for reducing staff burnout over time, and that the COVID-19 pandemic likely made psychological safety and leadership more salient for reducing risk of burnout among educators.

Classroom-based physical activity (CPA) is an evidence-based practice that improves student physical activity outcomes, but national data suggest implementation is insufficient in US classrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine individual and contextual factors associated with elementary school teachers' intentions to implement CPA. We collected input survey data from 181 classroom teachers (10 schools; 98.4% participation among eligible teachers) across three separate cohorts to examine associations between individual and contextual constructs and future CPA implementation intentions. Data were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression. Individual-level characteristics of perceived autonomy for using CPA, perceived relative advantage/compatibility of CPA, and general openness to educational innovations were positively associated with intentions to implement CPA (p < 0.05). Teacher perceptions of contextual factors such as administrator support for CPA were also associated with implementation intentions. This study adds to prior evidence about the importance of theoretically determined constructs for understanding behavioral intentions among front-line implementers such as classroom teachers. Additional research is needed to evaluate interventions designed to change malleable factors, including teachers' perceptions, as well as changing school environments so that teachers perceive more autonomy to use CPA and have the training and resources that build skills for implementation.

Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) can significantly benefit students' health and educational outcomes, but many teachers do not utilize CBPA. This study examined teachers' perceptions about the value and impact of several approaches to support CBPA implementation, and teachers' weekly self-reported CBPA use. Interviews were conducted with 35 classroom teachers (including those using and not using CBPA) at two public elementary schools, and CBPA tracking logs were collected on a weekly basis. Interview transcripts were interpreted through key domains within implementation science. On average, teachers reported using one activity every other day. Interview data revealed that utilizing professional collaboration time for peer-to-peer feedback and getting informal support from the school's physical education teacher both have some promise for increasing implementation of CBPA. However, teachers largely felt these strategies were unnecessary. Explicit administrator support was reported by teachers as the most promising mechanism for increasing their CBPA implementation.

Research exploring factors related to teachers' implementation of classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) has increased in recent years. This article highlights key findings from the literature about the implementation and maintenance of CBPA by classroom teachers. The authors provide an overview of the literature examining CBPA implementation from an implementation science perspective. Topics addressed include methods for measuring implementation, characteristics of CBPA resources, and predictors of teachers' implementation of CBPA. Findings from the narrative review are presented in tandem with insights from the authors' work during a grant-funded project examining strategies to improve CBPA implementation in elementary schools. Many off-the-shelf resources for CBPA implementation exist, with varying degrees of implementation support. Studies have used a variety of methods to measure implementation, mostly focused on teacher self-report. Few studies have provided evidence regarding long-term use of CBPA, but those that do report decreased implementation rates over time. A robust body of research examining CBPA implementation facilitators and barriers shows that organizational-level support from district and school administrators is crucial for successful implementation. Leadership buy-in is crucial for the implementation of policies and practices in schools, such as CBPA initiatives. Approaches that are embedded within school systems, such as communities of practice and coaching from school champions, have potential for improving implementation. Disseminating CBPA resources and providing information about the importance of school and district leadership are suggested for more widespread implementation. Future work would benefit from the use of evidence-based implementation science frameworks to ensure that interventions are designed to maximize implementation at the classroom level.

Background: Evidence of the positive effects of school physical activity (PA) interventions, including classroom-based PA (CBPA), is rapidly growing. However, few studies examine how variations in scheduled PA opportunities and teacher-implemented CBPA affect students' PA outcomes. Methods: Teachers at five elementary schools attended training on how to implement CBPA. Data on school day PA opportunities (physical education [PE], recess, CBPA) were obtained via calendar and teacher-recorded CBPA logs. Daily step counts were measured via accelerometry in 1,346 students across 65 classrooms in first through fifth grades. Results: PE, recess, and CBPA contributed significantly to students' daily steps. Males accrued more steps than females over the school day, during PE, and during recess. No gender disparity was seen in the amount of additional steps accrued during CBPA. Overall step counts were lower among fifth grade students versus first grade students, but CBPA attenuated this difference such that grade level differences were not significant in fifth grade students who received CBPA. Conclusions: Gender disparities in step totals were present on PE and recess days, but not on CBPA days. CBPA appears to provide equal PA benefits for both genders, and to potentially minimize the decline in PA among older students.

Objectives: Schools can provide an optimal environment for promoting children's health behaviours. The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model addresses 10 aspects of the school environment that can be used to promote student health behaviours and academic outcomes: namely, Health Education; Nutrition Environment and Services; Employee Wellness; Social and Emotional School Climate; Physical Environment; Health Services; Counselling, Psychological and Social Services; Community Involvement; Family Engagement; and Physical Education and Physical Activity. Design: Guidelines for practical use of the WSCC model for school professionals are limited, impeding potential impact on school health promotion. Accordingly, in this article, we seek to demonstrate an application of the WSCC model to a specific school-based practice: recess. Setting: School recess. Results: An overview of literature and evidence-informed practices details how recess can facilitate WSCC adoption and initial implementation. Areas requiring further empirical research prior to making additional recommendations are also discussed. Conclusion: Strategies to enhance learning and health are described, attempting to bridge the gap between research and practice in school settings using the WSCC model.

Background: Rural School Support Strategies (RS3) is a bundle of implementation supports (including training, technical assistance, and a virtual learning collaborative) designed for the scale-up of universal prevention initiatives. This study addresses mechanisms of action, exploring whether positive effects of RS3 on implementation fidelity are attributable to improvements in functioning of school implementation teams, and increases in organizational readiness. Methods: Data are from a cluster-randomized hybrid Type 3 implementation-effectiveness trial of RS3 among rural Idaho schools implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Forty public K-12 schools in Idaho, located in rural areas or townships, were recruited for the trial and were equally randomized to either the basic supports condition, including standard trainings, or to the RS3 condition. Condition was not masked. The mechanistic aims were hypothesized prior to the trial and tested with survey data from individuals on each school's implementation team (n = 205). Surveys were collected in spring 2019 and 2020 regarding organizational readiness and team functioning. The outcome measure was PBIS implementation fidelity, measured by school teams during the summers of 2019 and 2020 using the Tiered Fidelity Inventory. School-level path models tested the effect of RS3 on implementation fidelity, controlling for baseline, school grade level, and school location. Multilevel (2–1-2) mediation models tested the degree to which individual team members' perceptions of organizational readiness and team functioning mediated the relationship between school-level experimental condition and fidelity, controlling for the team members' role. Results: Schools receiving RS3 reported significantly greater implementation fidelity, although effects were slightly reduced (b = 8.40, p =.056, 95% CI [-0.22,17.01], β = 0.54) after inclusion of baseline and demographic controls. Models indicated a significant indirect effect of RS3 on fidelity through increased team productivity (b = 6.30, SE = 2.63, p =.017, MC 95% CI [0.83,13.86], β = 0.21), and effects through organizational readiness, change commitment, team culture, and team goal setting. Conclusions: External supports may improve implementation of universal prevention initiatives in rural schools through improvements in readiness and fostering teaming in organizations. Trial registration: This research was prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03736395), on November 9, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fitness education is essential for children's health, but determining the effectiveness of instruction related to health-related fitness is difficult. The present study developed and confirmed the validity of a 20-item scale, adapted from the School Health Index (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014), to evaluate the success of fitness education portion of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) across a sample of 785 teachers. Method: The initial subset (n = 373) represented 353 schools and was used for conducting an exploratory factor analysis. The second subset (n = 412) representing 404 schools, was used to conduct the confirmatory factor analysis. Teachers self-assessed their perceived degree of implementation of fitness education (full, partial, under development, not in place) within their school (i.e., teachers helped students set fitness goals). Results: An initial exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Fitness Education Index questions clustered into six factors. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis conducted using Mplus concluded the six-factor solution was a good fit (CFI = 0.90, TLI = 0.88, RMSEA = 0.08, SRMR = 0.06). Conclusion: This scale is a valid measure of a school's readiness to initiate and track progress toward the full implementation of fitness education.

Background: Out-of-school time (OST) programs are an important setting for supporting student health and academic achievement. This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of school-based OST programs, which can inform efforts to promote healthy behaviors in this setting. Methods: A nationally representative sample of public elementary schools (N = 640) completed surveys in 2013-2014. Administrators reported on OST programs and policies at their school. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the prevalence of school-based OST programs, adjusting for school characteristics. Among schools with OST programs (N = 475), chi-square tests identified school characteristics associated with having an OST policy about physical activity or nutrition. Results: Three fourths of elementary schools (75.6%) had a full- or partial-year school-based OST program, with 30.8% having both. Full- and partial-year programs were significantly less prevalent in rural and township areas versus urban settings. Only 27.5% of schools with OST programs reported having physical activity and/or nutrition policies. Conclusions: Most US elementary schools have an on-site OST program, but disparities in access exist, and most lack policies or awareness of existing policies regarding physical activity and nutrition. To maximize OST programs' potential benefits, strategies are needed to increase access to programs and physical activity and/or nutrition policy adoption.

Background: School policies and practices, such as the sharing of school facilities with the surrounding community, support physical activity among students and community members, but are often underutilized. This study examined variations in shared use practices, and associations with perceived barriers. Methods: Surveys were completed by a nationally representative sample of 640 public elementary schools across the United States. Administrators reported on their school's practices related to the shared use of indoor and outdoor facilities, and perceived barriers to sharing. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between barriers and practices. Results: Liability or legal concerns, staffing expenses, and facility operation costs were most frequently reported as barriers, while lack of adequate facilities and perceived lack of community interest were less common. Cost concerns and perceived lack of community interest were most strongly associated with lack of sharing. Conclusions: Although liability or legal concerns are common, such concerns are not necessarily associated with less sharing when other factors are taken into account. Administrators' perceptions about lack of community interest were associated with less sharing, but these perceptions may not accurately reflect the community's perspective. Active development of partnerships could increase access to school facilities.

Psychological safety is a psychosocial construct that reflects an individual's perception of social risk in the work environment, and is related to employee performance and well‐being, including job satisfaction and burnout. Psychological safety remains relatively understudied among educators, including its patterns over time and relationships with other aspects of the school environment. This study explored patterns of psychological safety over 4 years among 769 staff at 20 rural K‐12 schools, before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and the associations of these patterns with work‐associated well‐being and organizational context outcomes. Repeated measures latent profile analyses identified a 3‐class solution of stable‐high (51.0%), stable‐medium (44.8%), and dynamic‐low (4.2%) psychological safety classes. Those in the stable‐high class had consistently better outcomes, including less burnout and greater self‐efficacy, and better perceived organizational context and climate, compared to other classes. Among educators, psychological safety is generally stable, and reliably differentiates other important outcomes. Interventions fostering greater psychological safety may improve perceptions of the school environment and reduce burnout. Practitioner points: Psychological safety varies among educators, but is typically stable over time.Greater psychological safety is consistently associated with greater perceived supports and lower burnout.Interventions to improve psychological safety among educators may improve their resilience to stress in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schools are a setting in which students learn about the importance of lifelong physical activity (PA). Best practice guidelines indicate that schools should provide students with adequate physical education (PE) minutes and opportunities to engage in PA throughout the school day. Methods: Data from the nationally representative School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study in 2014--2015 were utilized to assess PA practices (including PE) at 412 public elementary schools. These data were linked to state- and district-level policy data from the National Wellness Policy Study to examine the relationships between state law and school district policies and school practices. Results: Just over half of the schools were in a state with a policy regarding PE minutes. The comprehensiveness and strength of PA policies were higher at the district level than the state level, but were still low overall. Comprehensiveness of PA policies at the state level, but not at the district level, was related to schools within those states that provide more PA practices. Conclusions: Existence of PE and PA policies at the state level appears to be an important predictor of school PA practices. Having more comprehensive policies at the state level may be an important facilitator of school implementation of comprehensive PA practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) is increasingly recommended as a method to support children's physical activity, health, and academic performance. Many adoption-ready programs exist to aid in the implementation of CBPA in schools; yet, implementation rates remain low. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which resources provided by adoption-ready CBPA programs addressed theory-based implementation contextual factors to support implementation. Existing CBPA programs (N = 37) were identified through Internet searches and all materials (e.g. implementation guides) provided by each program were coded for their inclusion of 51 implementation factors based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Analyses were conducted to compare inclusion of implementation factors across CFIR Domains and by three program groupings: free (yes/no), research evidence (yes/no), and targeted to teacher only (vs. school). Programs covered a mean of 25.9 per cent (SD = 18.7 per cent) of the 14 Inner Setting implementation factors, 34.2 per cent (SD = 18.0 per cent) of the 6 Characteristics of Individuals implementation factors, and 34.8 per cent (SD = 24.3 per cent) of the 8 Process implementation factors. Programs with research evidence covered more implementation factors than programs without research evidence (43.7 vs. 25.9 per cent; p <.05). Although numerous adoption-ready CBPA programs are available and have many strengths, their inclusion of theory-based factors that support or inhibit implementation is generally low. Consideration of such factors, including organizational climate and teacher-level behavior change, is likely critical to supporting ongoing school-wide implementation of CBPA. Research is needed to develop and test effective strategies for addressing these factors to support more widespread CBPA implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying public health advisories forced K-12 schools throughout the United States to suspend in-person instruction. School personnel rapidly transitioned to remote provision of academic instruction and wellness services such as school meals and counseling services. The aim of this study was to investigate how schools responded to the transition to remote supports, including assessment of what readiness characteristics schools leveraged or developed to facilitate those transitions. Semi-structured interviews informed by school wellness implementation literature were conducted in the spring of 2020. Personnel ( n = 50) from 39 urban and rural elementary schools nationwide participated. The readiness = motivation capacity 2 (R = MC 2 ) heuristic, developed by Scaccia and colleagues, guided coding to determine themes related to schools' readiness to support student wellness in innovative ways during the pandemic closure. Two distinct code sets emerged, defined according to the R = MC 2 heuristic (1) Innovations: roles that schools took on during the pandemic response, and (2) Readiness: factors influencing schools' motivation and capacity to carry out those roles. Schools demonstrated unprecedented capacity and motivation to provide crucial wellness support to students and families early in the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts can inform future resource allocation and new strategies to implement school wellness practices when schools resume normal operations.