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Archived News
Office of State Comptroller To Audit Physical Education Compliance (pdf)
The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) will be auditing school district compliance to the Regulations of the Commissioner, Section 135.4 on physical education. A guidance tool (pdf) has been developed by SED at the request of OSC to complete these audits . Technical assistance is available from SED on meeting these requirements. Contact Trish Kocialski, Associate in Physical Education for assistance at: pkocials@mail.nysed.gov
Carol M. White Physical Education Program Competition
Carol M. White Physical Education Program Competition applications are now available. Application deadline is March 24, 2008.
PEP grants support the initiation, expansion, and improvement of
physical education programs (which may include after-school programs) in
order to make progress toward meeting State standards for physical
education for kindergarten through 12th grade students by (1) providing
equipment and support to enable students to participate actively in
physical education activities; and (2) providing funds for staff and
teacher training and education.
For more information, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=16880
The NYS Partnership for Walk Our Children to School sponsors an annual writing contest to promote walkable communities that can create safer and healthier children and adults. Each year students in elementary grades 1-5 are invited to participate in the contest. Finalists will receive a prize package, which includes a “Certificate of Achievement.”
The NYS Partnership members are:
New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
New York State Department of Transportation
Be Active New York State
To find out more about this program, go to: www.nyswalks.org or www.walktoschool.org
The Department has issued a field memo dated January 2007, regarding Physical Education Programs in response to concerns that certain school districts may not be providing programs that lead to the attainment of NYS learning standards. This memo provides guidance for schools to better ascertain their compliance with Section 135.4 of the Commissioner's Regulations. School districts are encouraged to review the field memo to ensure that they are in compliance with the number of days per week and total minutes per week that are required for physical education at each grade level. The field memo and regulations may be accessed by PDF and HTML.
NYS State Sanitary Code, Subpart 6-1 – Swimming Pools
Effective November 7, 2007: All school swimming pools must have one lifeguard for every 3,400 square feet or less:
Lifeguards |
Pool Size |
1 |
3,400 sq. ft. |
2 |
3,401 – 6,800 sq. ft |
3 |
6,801 – 11,200 sq. ft |
If the physical education teacher is a certified lifeguard they may fulfill the lifeguard requirement, however, if they are providing instruction and subject to distraction, a second person is required to be in the pool for bather supervision and injury prevention.
Effective January 1, 2008*, the secondary person must possess an American Red Cross Lifeguard Management course certificate or other course approved by the NYS Department of Health. (Check with your local Health Department regarding other acceptable certifications)
*if a school is having difficulty completing the training requirement, they may apply to the NYS DOH for an extension of time to complete the training.
MRSA Resources (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
A joint Health Advisory on MRSA by the New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health on MRSA and resources for schools may be found on the Statewide School Health Services Center web page at: www.schoolhealthservicesny.com Click on the “A-Z Index” then click on “M” for the Health Advisory