How California Is Boosting In-School Physical Activity

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With funding from The California Endowment, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program has launched a new initiate, Active Students, Active Minds, to help elementary, middle, and high schools in California (38.6% Latino) provide 60 minutes of physical activity for kids through a 60 minute equation (see image for equation).

Any school staff member is eligible to register their school for free.

When a school registers to participate, a school representative will have access to resources, trainings, assistance from national experts, and a customizable assessment tool and action plan, and will be prompted throughout the year to solve the 60 minute equation.

Each week, schools will receive 2 simple classroom breaks/activities and a bonus activity to reach the 10 minutes of physical activity breaks for elementary school and 20 minutes of physical activity breaks for middle and high school.

Schools are encouraged to share “how they are moving” on social media and can win prizes and time with a celebrity athlete.

Research shows that when kids are more active before and during school, their classroom behavior, focus on schoolwork, and academic performance improves. Research also shows that Latino kids have fewer opportunities to be physically active in school due to the schools policies and practices. Therefore, when schools dedicate time for physical activity, all students benefit, thus reducing inequity and health disparities and possibly improving academic achievement.