The School Physical Activity and Nutrition Environment Tool (SPAN-ET) is a PSE Change tool used by school sector stakeholders to assess elementary and middle/high school resources and readiness to improve nutrition and physical activity (PA) environments, suggest appropriate improvement strategies, score and measure outcomes resulting from environmentally-based treatments. The elementary SPAN-ET includes 28 items-Area of Interest and middle/high HSPAN-ET includes 29 items-Areas of Interest in two main component categories, PA and nutrition, and considers the policy, situational, and physical environment within each component.
Intervention Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Reducing Screen Time
SNAP-Ed Strategies: PSE Change
SPAN-ET targets elementary school-aged youth (grades k-5/6) in SNAP-Ed eligible (>50% students eligible for free/reduced meals) elementary school settings. HSPAN-ET targets middle and high school-aged youth (grades 7-12) in SNAP-Ed eligible middle and high school settings.
Settings: Schools
Age/Population Group: Elementary School; Middle School, High School
Race: All
Ethnicity: All
SPAN-ET includes direct observation, interview, document review, and school wellness coalitions. Coalitions include SNAP-Ed staff, utilize the SPAN-ET Results and Resource Guide that provides assessment details to individual schools as to which criteria were met relative to their SPAN-ET scores, and links appropriate research-based, practice-based or emerging PSE strategies with each criterion to tailor school-based PSE implementation to unmet criteria. The HSPAN-ET engages middle and/or high school students as auditors to conduct direct observation, interview, and document review and participate as members of school wellness coalitions. These intervention components contribute to school environmental and policy improvements aimed at supporting students' healthy weight, healthy dietary, and PA behaviors at school.
Online materials (SPAN-ET) and self-directed online training modules are under development (pending funding).
The SPAN-ET was evaluated to be a reliable instrument for assessing the quality of elementary school PA and nutrition environments and a sensitive measure for objectively identifying specific attributes of SPAN-ET areas of interest (PSEs) to target for school environmental and policy improvements aimed at supporting students' weight healthy dietary and PA behaviors at school.
- John, DH, Gunter, K, Jackson, J, & Manore, M (2016). Developing the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Environment Tool (SPAN-ET) to Measure Qualities of the Obesogenic Context. J Sch Health.86(1):39-47.
- John, DH, Halverson, B, & Ho, T. (2019). Adapting an Elementary School Nutrition Context Assessment for High School Settings and Students. J Human Sci Extension, 7(3).
Evidence Base: Research-tested
Based on the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, the following outcome indicators can be used to evaluate intervention progress and success.
| Readiness and Capacity - Short Term (ST) | Changes - Medium Term (MT) | Effectiveness and Maintenance - Long Term (LT) | Population Results (R) | |
| Individual | ||||
| Environmental Settings | ST5, ST7 | MT5, MT6 | LT5, LT6, LT9, LT10 | |
| Sectors of Influence |
The SPAN-ET is an environmental evaluation tool for assessing and prioritizing PSE interventions in schools; SPAN-ET population dose evaluation materials are now available (launched 2022). Developers proposed (pending funding) to validate the SPAN-ET item (Area of Interest) effectiveness relative to population-level dose (reach X strength). To date, examination has included only select SPAN-ET-driven PA PSE change relative to changes in reached students' in-school PA bout behaviors and weekly levels.
Website: Oregon State Extension SPAN-ET webpage includes an overview of the SPAN-ET and sample HSPAN-ET tools. Contact Person(s):
Deborah H. John, Program Director
Professor and Extension Specialist for Health Equity and Place
College of Health
Oregon State University
Email: deborah.john@oregonstate.edu
Phone: (541) 737-1405
*Updated as of October 2, 2023