ABSTRACT

This chapter outlines national and state mandates influencing physical activity (PA) and health initiatives and discusses theoretical models to promote PA. Federal policy initiatives such as the PA Guidelines for Americans, Healthy People 2020, Physical Education for Progress grants, and First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign demonstrate the federal government's support for quality PA programs. Are children healthier and more ready to learn as a result of national and state initiatives? David Satcher, the former Surgeon General of the United States and founding chair of Action for Healthy Kids, concludes that our children do not receive enough PA and nutritional information to make them ready to learn. Establishing interdisciplinary partnerships allows various entities to pool scarce resources to promote PA and health in schools. L. Miller asserts that PA legislation can be useful in promoting and advocating for youth PA.