SPARK is a research-based public health organization committed to improving the health of children, adolescents and adults. Not only that, SPARK believes that by using its model students will improve in classes outside of physical education. SPARK's model is based on 300% more time spent on physical education during the week than most schools. SPARK claims on its website that it improves the physical fitness of its students. But how long can a school sustain the program? SPARK materials are expensive and it seems like the money just keeps piling into SPARK. For the full program set for just 3-6, it's $700. With this in mind, schools still have to pay for training, equipment and follow-up support. This is also just one level! It's about the same for K-2, middle school, and high school. You would think that a school would give up on SPARK and continue using the previous program. A case study titled Evaluating the Sustainability of SPARK Physical Education: A Case Study Translating Research into Practice notes the program's indisputable success and finds, through 111 surveys conducted by states such as California, Maryland, and Hawaii, that 20% of schools are return to their old structures. physical education after four full years. This means that 80% of schools had great success with the program and continued to use and pay for it. SPARK is not only a tool for elementary schools, but is also offered as a text for college and university students. It is available in two texts, k-5 and 6-12. The SPARK website states that the course materials have been developed and field-tested with students since 1994. SPARK-University provides in-service teachers with a solid foundation of developmentally appropriate content, well sequenced, and aligned with the National Physical Education St .... .. middle of paper ......Nov. 2013."How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance." SPARK PE. Np, nd Web. 06 November 2013. Marcoux, M. F., Sallis, J. F., McKenzie, T. L., Marshall, S., Armstrong, C. A., & Goggin, K. (1999). Process evaluation of a physical activity self-management program for children: SPARK. Psychology and Health, 14, 659-677.McKenzie, T.L., Alcaraz, J.E., Sallis, J.F., & Faucette, F.N. (1998). Effects of a physical education program on children's manipulative skills. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 17, 327-341.McKenzie, T.L., Alcaraz, J., & Sallis, J.F. (1994) Evaluation of children's enjoyment of activity units in an elementary school physical education curriculum. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 13, 206-215.Team, Spark. "SPARK." What is spark. NP Network. 25 September 2013. .