News from…
The Council of the City of New York
Office of Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley
250 Broadway Ste. 1765, New York, NY 10007
MEDIA ADVISORY: For Immediate Release
CROWLEY, DROMM AND PHYS ED 4 ALL COALITION CALL FOR PASSING PE BILL PRIOR TO THURSDAY’S VOTE
Proposed Int. 0644-B Co-Prime Sponsors join advocates and City Comptroller Scott Stringer to call on the City Council to pass meaningful PE reporting legislation
New York, NY (October 28, 2015) – Physical education (PE) has faded out of many city schools over the past few years, despite state-mandated requirements to hold classes and report on doing so. Year after year, New York City schools are falling short of providing students with the required amount of PE instruction; studies show schools with a lack of gym space, licensed PE teachers and more.
On Thursday, October 29, 12 p.m. in front of the Tweed Courthouse, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley in conjunction with City Council co-prime sponsors, City Comptroller Scott Stringer and the Phys Ed 4 All Coalition will call for the City Council to pass legislation (Proposed Int. 0644-B) to further ensure public school students get the physical education needed for overall good health and education. Comprehensive, quality PE during the school day has been shown to improve children’s health, focus and academic performance.
This legislation passed the City Council Education Committee on Tuesday and will face a vote by the full Council at Thursday’s Stated Meeting.
This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) to report the number of minutes and frequency of physical education at each grade level, the number of full-time and part-time certified instructors at each school and report information on the on-site and off-site spaces used for instruction. The DOE would submit this data to the City Council Speaker and post on its website, allowing parents and others to monitor how much PE is given at their children’s school. The first report will be released by August 31, 2016 and will reflect the conditions for this school year.
WHO:
Council Members Elizabeth Crowley and Daniel Dromm
City Comptroller Scott Stringer
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network
American Heart Association
Ali Annunziato, Bronx Letters Physical Educator
Make the Road New York
Citizen’s Committee for Children
Women’s City Club
Wellness in the Schools
Bon Secours Health Systems
WHAT: A call for greater transparency in public schools in regards to physical education instruction.
WHEN: Thursday, October 29 at 12 p.m.
WHERE: The Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers Street, Manhattan
Maggie Hayes-Communications Director
Office of Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley
718-366-3900 | 212-788-7381