Whose job is it to advocate?

All of ours. We need to advocate for the things that are important to us, our families and people in need.

Our kids need and deserve an education that fully addresses academic, social-emotional, and physical learning. That’s why we need you to advocate for school physical education and physical activity programs.

Tools to Make the Case

All you need are passion, authenticity and the right tools.

Ways to Take Action

SHAPE America

The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) is the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the nation. They lead the way on advocating for federal legislation to support school physical education and physical activity, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which identifies school health and physical education as part of a student’s “well-rounded education” and provides increased access to funds for these programs.

Access their many user-friendly tools to help you advocate for active schools.

Voices for Healthy Kids

Voices for Healthy Kids, an innovative advocacy initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Heart Association, is focused on promoting health equity, building a culture of health and making each day healthier for all children.

Exercise Their Minds. Protect PE. includes a campaign toolkit, messaging documents, and downloadable graphics.

Your community can apply for a policy campaign grant for a school physical education and physical activity advocacy campaign in your state, local, and tribal geographic location.

Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School is an initiative to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bicycle to and from school. The goal is to get more children walking and biking to school, improve kids’ safety, and increase health and physical activity. Check out their many resources for turnkey program implementation.

Walk to School Day is the first Wednesday in October. Your school can join thousands of others to celebrate International Walk to School Day. If your school or community has a thriving Safe Routes to School program, this day is a great energizing event. If you don’t have many existing efforts, Walk to School Day is a fun and easy way to explore interest, build enthusiasm, and get started.

 

Take the Initiative and Make a Difference

Becoming an Active Schools Champion is a way to make a difference in the health and education of the next generation. It’s how we bring health equity to schools. It’s how we start a movement.