Preparing an effective school-based physical activity implementation strategy for scale-up: a randomized noninferiority trial.

Adapted PACE In a 2018 RCT, the multi-strategy Physically Active Children in Education (PACE) intervention was effective in supporting schools to implement a state-wide physical activity policy. Intervention schools scheduled significantly more physical activity across the school week compared to control schools. However, PACE may not be suitable for dissemination in its original format and a low intensity variation may be noninferior (and more scalable). The low intensity PACE intervention will consist of the following; 1. 1 × 5hr face-to-face training delivered by project officers (accredited by the state educational authority) for existing primary school staff who volunteer to take on the role of in-school champion (ISC) to help with the scheduling of PE, sport and other physical activity. Occurs at the start of the intervention (term 4) to align with schools’ planning phase for the upcoming school year. 2. 1 × 1hr face-to-face professional development for all teachers, delivered by the ISC at the beginning of the school year (term 1) with the goal to increase teachers scheduling of physical activity during the school day. 3. Resources either pre-existing from the Department of Education or developed specifically for the trial, such as an online portal, physical activity packs, example schedules, example policies, and manuals that support the teaching of PE. 4. 1 initial outreach to ISC and principals via e-mail or telephone delivered by project officers. 5.Project officers further support policy implementation via on-going distance communication (i.e., telephone and email) as well as the on-line portal.