West Virginia Physcial Activity

Physical Education for Progress Act - PEP Bill

PEP Technical Assistance

PEP Bill - Title VII

WV Physical Activity Page

Resources

Grant Summary

The U.S. Congress approved a mammoth omnibus spending bill on December 15, 2000, that included a $5 million appropriation for the Physical Education for Progress Act for fiscal year 2001

According to officials at the U.S. Department of Education, they believe the PEP grant guidelines will be announced sometime in March and school districts will have six weeks to submit proposals. The winning grants will be announced the first week of June 2001 and recipients will have 12 months to complete their projects.

Grants are to help initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for kindergarten through grade 12 students. Funds can be used to purchase equipment, develop curriculum, hire and/or train physical education staff, and support other initiatives designed to enable students to participate in physical education activities. (Title VII --- Physical Education for Progress Act, sections 10999D and 10999E, enclosed).

Important notes: No more than 5% of any grant request may be for adminstrative costs. PEP funds will only provide for 90% of the total cost of the project. Each application must provide for 10% non-Federal matching funds for the total cost of the project. Funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funds available for Physical Education activities. (See Title VII — Physical Education for Progress Act, Sections 10999J and 10999K, enclosed.)

Efforts to get the full $400 million appropriated over the next five years will be enhanced by the success of these first grants. It is critical that programs show significant improvement in student learning and increased physical activity as a result of the funding provided by these grants. Therefore, so that you are ready when the appropriate guidelines are announced, NASPE recommends that you:

1) Begin thinking of concrete ways that you can improve your physical education program and what resources are needed to do so.

2) Talk to your building administrator about this opportunity and request his/her support in soliciting these funds.

3) Stay current on PEP funding news by becoming a member of NASPE/AAHPERD, participating on the NASPE listserv and by visiting our website at www.aahperd.org/naspe.

Judy Young
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
January 12, 2001