Six Richland One elementary schools are participating in a University of South Carolina study about the health of three-year-old and four-year-old children when they return to school from summer break.
The study, titled “Healthy School & Healthy Summer: The Early Years,” is being conducted by the Arnold Healthy Kids Initiative at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. The Arnold Healthy Kids Initiative is a research group working on issues related to childhood obesity.
The six elementary schools participating in the study are:
- Bradley Elementary School
- A.J. Lewis Greenview Elementary School
- Webber Elementary School
- Hyatt Park Elementary School
- Hopkins Elementary School
- Gadsden Elementary School
The study started in January 2025 and will last two years. The information from the study will be used to develop innovative strategies to support families and promote the health and well-being of students outside of school.
Dr. Kimberly Johnson, the pre-kindergarten coordinator in Richland One’s Office of School Readiness and Pre-Kindergarten Programs, says that when young students are out of school, where they go and what they do could undermine their growth and development, with children from low-income households being at greatest risk.
“Evidence suggests when young children are away from school for extended periods of time, such as during summer break, they experience declines in health. This study will directly benefit families and the district by identifying promising strategies that can be used to help young children maintain their healthy growth and development outside of school – during the summer and after the school day ends,” said Dr. Johnson.
The study is funded by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. Each school received $1,000 as an incentive for participating in the study.
