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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2008
Release #: 005-2008
Contact: Sarah Krauss
212.669.4691; 917.541.0936
PA Gotbaum: Department of Education Needs to Hit the Gym
-A new Gotbaum survey shows that many elementary schools violate State physical education mandates-
-Despite high obesity rates in NYC schoolchildren, schools lack sufficient physical education classes-
MANHATTAN – The Office of the Public Advocate conducted a survey as a follow-up to its 2004 report on access to physical education in schools and found that, despite an overall improvement in access to physical education for 3rd grade, the vast majority of elementary schools surveyed are still in violation of physical education mandates. The survey also revealed improvement in access to the number of teams and sports programs. Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum testified at a State Assembly hearing today on the compliance of school districts with required physical education programs.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “Kids need to be active, it’s that simple. And, for many children in our sedentary culture, gym classes at school may be their only opportunity for physical activity during the day and their only preparation for an active lifestyle. The good news is notable improvement in access to physical education in the last four years; the bad news is that far too many schools are still not providing the required physical education.”
The State physical education regulations require students in kindergarten through 3rd grade to receive physical education daily, and grades 4-6 to have physical education at least 3 times per week, with a minimum of 120 minutes per week.
Based on a random sample of 100 elementary schools, 20 in each borough, the survey found that:
-95.7 percent of elementary schools surveyed are in violation of the New York State regulations requiring daily physical education for students in third grade
-88.2 percent of elementary schools surveyed are in violation of New York State regulations mandating at least 120 minutes per week of physical education for students in fourth grade
-19 percent of elementary schools surveyed have an athletic teams or sports program
In 2004, in light of the city’s alarming obesity rates and state physical education mandates, the Office of the Public Advocate conducted a survey of 100 randomly selected public elementary schools to determine student access to physical education programs. The 2004 report found that out of 100 New York City public elementary schools surveyed 20 of the schools either had no gym classes at all or had them infrequently, and all elementary schools surveyed were in violation of New York State law.
The Office of the Public Advocate conducted the new survey by calling 20 randomly selected schools in each borough and asking a series of questions about access to physical education. These preliminary survey results will be included in a larger report that the office is producing as a follow-up to the 2004 report on access to physical activity in New York City public schools.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of New York students cited unhealthy dietary behaviors and physical inactivity as causes for the rising numbers of overweight students. Among other factors, 70 percent of students don’t meet recommended levels of physical activity, and that 83 percent don’t attend daily physical education classes.
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