OSU partners with OSDE to elevate physical education in schools
Friday, May 30, 2025
Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu
K-12 schools statewide gain access to enhanced physical education resources through partnerships and virtual-knowledge sharing program
Oklahoma State University is supporting Oklahoma Pre-K through 12th grade schools in enhancing physical education through a partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Schools selected for the initiative may receive up to $10,000 in reimbursement for exercise equipment, along with mentoring, professional development, and participation in a virtual community of practice led by OSU’s Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute and OSU Center for Health Sciences Project ECHO.
The Competitive Grants for High-Quality Physical Education Instruction is a partnership between OSDE and the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. OSDE is collaborating with OSU where the selected schools are automatically enrolled in the virtual learning program — Building Healthy School Communities ECHO.
“Following the success of our first Building Healthy School Communities ECHO cohort last spring, the Oklahoma State Department of Education saw the impact of this ‘all teach, all learn’ model and expressed interest in partnering to strengthen physical education in schools,” said Melenda Knight, HPNRI associate director. "This ECHO program connects schools committed to building healthier learning environments and equips them with expert guidance and practical tools to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
This Project ECHO line is the first program of its kind nationwide to merge K-12 education and health care on a hybrid platform. It is a collaboration with OSU Center for Health Sciences and OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute that aims to empower Oklahoma schools to enhance physical activity and healthy nutritional habits in targeted K-12 communities statewide by fostering open dialogue with subject matter experts on issues impacting students.
“Participating in the Building Healthy Schools Communities Project ECHO has given me a huge network of support with others in my field of health, nutrition and physical education,” said Sarah Ulrich, ECHO hub team member. “It allows us to have connected experiences with other educators and professionals in the field of health and movement that implement practical and worthwhile experiences for students.
“It has been a great opportunity to directly connect with others in my line of work that focus on improving movement, health and overall well being of our next generation. The abundant number of resources that have been provided our group are an invaluable tool for creating and providing amazing experiences and opportunities for kids and their school and communities.”
The pilot cohort launched in 2024 reaching individuals in five school districts throughout the 18-week program. In collaboration with OSDE, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the program has since expanded to over 60 schools varying in size from across Oklahoma.
Led by a team of experts, Project ECHO prioritizes providing resources for physical and health literacy, mental and emotional health for teachers and students, improving nutrition literacy and programs, and developing and communicating health/wellness vision to schools and communities.
The BHSC ECHO is one of 22 medical and educational ECHO programs across the OSU system designed to extend the university’s network of teaching experts into rural Oklahoma with such learning platforms as pediatric obesity, athletic training, diabetes management, hypertension management, strength and conditioning, addiction, mental health and more.