About C.L.A.S.S.

The Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.) website uses two policy classification systems to score state-level codified laws for physical education (PE) and nutrition in schools. The scoring criteria for these systems are based on current public health research and national recommendations and standards for PE and nutrition in schools.

C.L.A.S.S. data, maps, and profiles can be used to compare PE and nutrition laws from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., against national standards and medians, allowing users to assess differences across states and changes over time.

C.L.A.S.S. data are currently available from 2003-2008. After 2008, policies are coded every two years. Data reflect the codified laws of each state as of December 31 of the specified year. C.L.A.S.S. scores reflect the law into effect in the specified year, not law creation date. 2010 data will be available for download in early 2012.

How is C.L.A.S.S. used?
C.L.A.S.S. can monitor, classify, and evaluate school physical activity and nutrition policies across time. Scores may be used in larger evaluation studies to examine state laws that have informal policies and their relationship with behavioral and school environment outcomes.

RESEARCHERS go to C.L.A.S.S. to: Download data to analyze school diet- and physical activity-related laws.

Use the data to:
  • Examine laws within and across grade levels
  • Link the data with other surveillance, health, and education datasets
  • Track changes in laws over time
  • Evaluate factors associated with implementation of laws
POLICY MAKERS go to C.L.A.S.S. to: Monitor how state PE and nutrition policies compare to other states using the map and state report functions.

Use the data to:
  • Examine if states are meeting the most current standards and recommendations for PE and nutrition
  • Evaluate how state laws compare to others
SCHOOL BOARDS, TEACHERS, AND THE PUBLIC go to C.L.A.S.S. to: Examine how local policies compare to state laws.

Use the data to:
  • Examine laws within and across grade levels
  • Subscribe to C.L.A.S.S. listserv for updates

What types of policies are scored in C.L.A.S.S.?
C.L.A.S.S. includes statutory laws enacted by state legislatures and administrative laws promulgated by state administrative agencies. These scored policies concern physical education/activity, food and nutrition, and body mass index. Policies that are codified into state law are independently reviewed and scored by MayaTech Corporation through a contract with the National Cancer Institute.

PE policy areas covered in C.L.A.S.S.:

  • PE class time
  • Staffing requirements for PE
  • PE curriculum standards
  • Assessment of health-related fitness
  • Recess time
  • Physical activity (PA) time requirements

School nutrition policy areas covered in C.L.A.S.S.:

  • Competitive foods—a la carte in cafeterias, vending machines, and other venues
  • Reimbursable school meals
  • School meal environment
  • Food service director qualifications
  • Coordinating or advisory council requirements
  • Nutrition education
  • Food marketing
  • Body mass index screening

How was C.L.A.S.S. developed?
C.L.A.S.S. was developed using a conceptual framework informed by a thorough review of scientific and gray literature (written material that is not published commercially or is not generally accessible), as well as consultations with experts from the National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and MayaTech Corporation.

For more information on the methodology for development of the coding system visit C.L.A.S.S. Actions (presentations and publications).

What makes C.L.A.S.S. unique?
C.L.A.S.S. is distinct from other school policy scoring systems because it captures all codified law by school level, rather than only legislative action or informal policies that have not been codified into law. It uses empirical scoring systems developed with established content validity and offers researchers independent scoring by attorneys and policy analysts according to prevailing national standards for nutrition and physical education.

Funding opportunities
Funding Opportunity Announcement: School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors and Weight Outcomes, issued by the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Grant applications are encouraged that propose to:

  1. Foster multidisciplinary research that will evaluate how policies (federal, state and school district levels) can influence school physical activity and nutrition environments, youths’ obesogenic behaviors (e.g., nutrition and physical activity behaviors), and weight outcomes
  2. Understand how schools are implementing these policies and examine multi-level influences on adoption and implementation at various levels (e.g., federal, state, school district, and school)
  3. Understand the synergistic or counteractive effect of school nutrition and physical activity polices on the home and community environment and body weight

Application and additional information is available at the links below.

Download the C.L.A.S.S. Factsheet (PDF, Updated January 2011)
This fact sheet is a two-page synopsis of the C.L.A.S.S. system and website.

C.L.A.S.S. Contacts:

For general C.L.A.S.S. inquiries, contact:
April Oh, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Senior Behavioral Scientist
ohay@mail.nih.gov

For PE inquiries, contact:
Frank M. Perna, Ed.D., Ph.D.
Program Director and Health Psychologist
Health Behaviors Research Branch
Behavioral Research Program
pernafm@mail.nih.gov

For nutrition inquiries, contact:
Tanya Agurs-Collins, Ph.D., R.D.
Nutritionist
Health Behaviors Research Branch
Behavioral Research Program
collinsta@mail.nih.gov