Project SWITCH

Overview

In 2018, the Oklahoma State Department of Education received a Get Fit grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase the number of students who are physically active, eat nutritious meals and manage chronic health conditions.  A $333,000 supplemental grant, or Project SWITCH (Strengthening Wellness and Improving Teachers and Children’s Health), will provide technical assistance to school nurses on the management of chronic health conditions and physical education teachers on how to safely conduct physical education during COVID for the current fiscal year. 

Statewide Cadres

Project SWITCH will support school staff members and students with safety and best practices for physical education, physical activity and monitoring chronic diseases during the 2020-21 school year.  The Project SWITCH leaders will work with teams (cadres) of physical education teachers and school nurses who will be assigned to every region of the state and will be responsible for sharing guidance and best practices for safety provided through the CDC’s COVID-19 school-guidance for physical education, physical activity and chronic disease management.  The physical education cadre members will promote effective physical education instruction while school nurse cadre members will support school-based health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project SWITCH Regional Contacts

Additional Support

Resources for Painted Play Spaces

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) partnered with the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) to develop recess resources and use painted play spaces to ensure social distancing during play time.

Northern Hills Elementary, Edmond Public Schools, was selected as a pilot school for the project. Stencils were used to paint recess games on the playground and ensure students 6 feet of separation while playing. The physical education teachers taught the games in physical education class before OSDE filmed the students playing the games. With the recordings, OSDE created demonstration videos on how to safely conduct physical activity opportunities before, during and after school. UCO collaborated with Caney, Colbert, and Madill Public Schools to paint games (with reusable stencils) on one playground in each school district. Paint and stencils will be purchased with grant funds. 

UCO and OSDE created the following resources for this project:

Playbook of Recess Games 

Painted Play Spaces: Playground Assessment and Planning Toolkit 

Demonstration Videos of Recess Games

Painted Play Spaces Asynchronous Training Module on OSDE Connect

Painted Play Spaces (PPS): Stencils Checkout System

Are you interested in borrowing the stencils to create "Painted Play Spaces" at your school? Checking the stencils out requires you to complete a two-step process of completing the PPS Stencils Pre-Assessment Form (below) and then the PPS Stencils Pre-Assessment Form (below).

PPS Stencils Pre-Assessment Form

PPS Stencils Assessment Form

Regional Virtual Meetings of Support

Each regional leader will separately conduct three one-hour virtual meetings (between November 2020 and May 2021) to assist you in understanding and possibly implementing aspects of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 school-based guidance for physical education and/or school health services. Please register to participate in the regional virtual meetings. Once you register, you will receive more information about the meetings and the support that will be provided through the virtual meetings. 

Do you have a question between regional virtual meetings of support? Fill out an assistance request form below and a regional leader will provide support.

Physical Education Assistance Request Form

School Nursing Assistance Request Form

Asynchronous Training Modules 

OSDE has developed a suite of virtual professional development modules produced through the Project SWITCH, a CDC grant designed to provide COVID-related information and guidance on best practices for physical education, chronic disease management and social and emotional climate. Topics are geared towards school nurses and physical education educators. However, the topics are likely of interest to other educators, support staff and leaders. Here are the topics currently available. 

For school nurses or other who perform school-based health services: 

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Exploring Common Questions and Strategies to Boost Vaccination Intentions

School-Based Health: Disparities Associated with the Pandemic

Chronic Health Conditions During the Pandemic

School-Based Health Services: Data Analysis for Chronic Health Conditions

School-Based Health Services: Differential Assessment of Students with COVID-19

Addressing Developmental and Special Health Care Needs During COVID-19 

School-Based Health Services: Updated COVID Guidance and Self-Care for School Nurses 

For physical education teachers or others who provide physical activity opportunities: 

Brain Energizers for Classroom Teachers (Ensure Social Distancing)

Physical Education: Assessment Tools & Resources

Introduction into Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAP) for Physical Education Teachers

Physical Education: COVID-19 Resources and Considerations

Physical Education: Physical Education: Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Physical Education: Instructional Planning with COVID-19

Incorporating Technology in Health and Physical Education

For classroom teachers:

Brain Energizers for Classroom Teachers (Ensure Social Distancing)

Adult Self-Care 

Supporting Student Social & Emotional Learning During COVID

New! Systemic Approach to Social and Emotional Learning Practices for Adults and Students

For administrators or Safe School Committee members:

School Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Training

To access all of the modules, go to OKEdge and use this guidance to navigate the platform. If you have questions, please contact Shana.Classen@sde.ok.gov, the Director of Health and Physical Education at OSDE.

Resources

The OSDE believes the work of schools, communities, and the agency should serve the whole child; ensuring all Oklahoma children are safe, healthy, challenged, engaged and supported. With that belief in mind, schools, teachers, and school nurses across Oklahoma can access resources produced through the Project SWITCH in the database below.

Participating Schools

Three partner districts – Caney, Colbert and Madill – will also receive additional targeted supports, including CDC COVID professional development, guidance for offering telemedicine, implementation of socially distanced play spaces, and training and technical assistance on social-emotional climate and child nutrition. 

Project Partners

The services provided through the SWITCH Project would not be possible without the following partnerships: University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (OAHPERD), Oklahoma State Department of Health, University of Kansas’ SWIFT Center, School Nurses Organization of Oklahoma (SNOO), TEAM Clinics, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, OSDE’s Child Nutrition Department, Cooking for Kids, Hunger Free Oklahoma, SHAPE America, Healthier Generations, Springboard to Active Schools, and National Association of School Nurses. Partnering with experts for each focus area will ensure that trainings and resources produced will be beneficial for Oklahoma schools. Thank you to all of our project partners!