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Fit Kids Act

Summary of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act or the “FIT Kids Act”

The FIT Kids Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require local educational agencies (LEAs) located in states receiving school improvement funds to provide the families of their students with information on healthful eating habits, physical education, and physical activity on an annual basis.

Specifically, the bill requires LEAs to assist their schools in annually collecting and disseminating to the families of school students information on:

• The most recent national recommendations for physical education and physical activity for students, as established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);
• whether the school follows an age-appropriate physical education curriculum for all students that adheres to such guidelines or state guidelines; the amount of time that students in kindergarten through grade 12 are required to spend in physical education, disaggregated by grade level;
• the facilities available for physical education and physical activity for students enrolled in the school;
• and any health and wellness council located in the school or with which the school is involved.

The measure directs the National Research Council to examine ways to incorporate physical education activities in schools, including before- and after-school programs; and the impact of physical education and academic achievement.