"Some shortsighted people thought that cutting back on time spent on physical education to spend more time drilling for tests would improve test scores," says Howell Wechsler, director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"But there are a lot of studies that show that more time for PE and other physical activity help improve academic performance."
He and colleagues reviewed 50 studies that examined the effect of school-based physical activity on academic performance. Half of the findings showed positive associations; half showed no effect, but virtually none of the research showed any harm.
Research: Physical activity can boost academic performance
Recess, PE seen as productive