Physical activity is an important part of the school day. It makes students better learners and teaches them healthy habits that can lead to longer, healthier lives. Unfortunately, not every child has access to a quality PE program or opportunities to run and play. The Active Schools/Active Minds Initiative is here to help find creative solutions to get students the physical activity they so desperately need!
The Active Schools/Active Minds Initiative is a part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program and is supported by Playworks Southern California along with the California Department of Education, California PTA, and many others. Schools participating in the California Endowment-funded Initiative receive advice and assistance to help them improve physical activity in their schools. Participants in the Initiative will work towards ensuring students have 60 minutes of physical activity per day, including before, during, and after school.
Active Schools/Active Minds works because:
- Schools receive technical support: The Initiative offers a superior level of technical support to participating schools. School administrators have access to a variety of online resources and a customer support center for on-demand support at any time. Participating schools also have access to national experts on physical activity who can offer advice and ideas to address the unique challenges school leaders face.
- Schools develop customizable & sustainable action plans: The Alliance’s online assessment and action plan tools provide a customized roadmap to address each school’s needs. The assessment and action plan are flexible enough to adapt to schools’ changing needs throughout the school year.
- Our successes affect policy change: The Alliance works with schools and school districts to change school policies for the long term. Changing policies around physical activity and wellness is a critical part of giving schools the support they need to make increased physical activity a reality.
If your school isn’t a member of the Healthy Schools Program, you can join today. Just visit www.healthiergeneration.org/active. Once you’ve joined, you can assess your school’s daily physical activity through the “Physical Education and Other Physical Activities” module. The Healthy Schools Program already provides guidance, tools, and support for more than 30,000 schools across the country, including nearly 2,000 schools in California.
