The Department of Education joined the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Get Active” campaign on Oct. 1, a joint initiative to bring physical fitness and student success events to schools across the country.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon signed on to the campaign, which will deploy fitness-focused events directly into schools nationwide, according to the department. The initiative is part of the broader Make America Healthy Again agenda.
The interagency collaboration is notable because physical fitness programming in schools has historically fallen between jurisdictional lines, with neither the Education Department nor HHS taking primary ownership of the issue at the federal level.
The campaign complements a $10 million Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge announced the same day by HHS, which invites schools to develop innovative approaches to student physical activity. Together, the two initiatives represent the most significant coordinated federal action on student fitness in years.
For American students and their families, the campaign promises direct engagement through school-based events that promote physical activity as a component of academic success and overall health.
Federal health data paints a stark picture of the need. Childhood obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s, with nearly 20% of school-age children now classified as obese. Physical inactivity contributes to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and mental health challenges among young people.
Schools across the country have cut physical education time in response to budget pressures and the emphasis on standardized test preparation. The National PTA and SHAPE America, the national organization for health and physical education professionals, have called for restoring physical activity as a core component of the school day.
The Department of Education said the campaign will provide resources and event frameworks that schools can adopt regardless of size, location or budget constraints.