First Lady Launches Let's Move! Active Schools Program

In an effort to promote healthier lifestyles for children, First Lady Michelle Obama has launched the Let’s Move! Active Schools program, calling on schools to step up and help keep their students active. NAESP is a national partner supporting the effort to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for children.

With only one in three kids staying active every day, it’s more important than ever to encourage them to get moving. Physical education is just as essential to students’ wellbeing and success as traditional academics. In fact, they go hand in hand. Kids who are active are more likely to score well on tests, have improved concentration and attention, and improved attendance and discipline.

The Let’s Move! Active Schools program aims to register at least 50,000 schools over the next five years, making a difference for as many as 25 million students. The website provides guidance on how to increase physical activity in your school through working with staff, families, and community members. Professional development resources are provided to assist staff, and information on grants can be found for schools that already want to support their physical education programs, but face difficult budget constraints.

Only 20 percent of school districts require daily recess, even though we know that kids need 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay healthy. Children spend most of their lives in school, making school leaders uniquely positioned to make a difference. By signing up with thousands of others championing the effort to promote active lifestyles in children, principals can work towards a healthy future for students across the country.

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