The New York City Council released a report, Planning to Learn: The School Building Challenge, which provides a detailed analysis of the space challenges faced by New York City’s public school system and recommendations on how to address the ongoing problem of overcrowding. The report also addresses the need for adequate space for physical education (PE).
According to the report, approximately 200 DOE schools still lack adequate space for full physical education instruction. The City’s capital budget includes $105.5 million to address the capital needs of 76 schools that currently have no access to PE space. The budget also earmarks funds for a survey of 129 additional schools that have no PE space to determine the best approach to provide them with adequate PE space.
It is encouraging that the NYC DOE is continuing to make progress in ensuring that all students have access to effective PE in their school, but there is still work to be done.