Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2007

Schumer Announces Over $1 Million Coming To Hudson Valley School Districts For Physical Education

Federal Funds Will Be Used By The Hendrick Hudson School District, The City School District Of New Rochelle, And Red Hook Central School District To Help Students Meet State Standards For Physical Education And Develop Nutrition Curriculum

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that three school districts in the Hudson Valley will receive a total of $1,038,460 from the Department of Education under the Carol M. White Physical Education Program. The Hendrick Hudson School District in Westchester County will receive $85,805; the City School District of New Rochelle in Westchester County will receive $499,325; and the Red Hook Central School District in Dutchess County will receive $453,330. All three districts will use the federal funds to promote physical education programs for K-12 students.

"This is great news for schools in Montrose, New Rochelle and Red Hook," Schumer said. "Given the explosion in childhood obesity, physical education is an important, yet often overlooked, part of a well rounded education. This funding will help our schools teach kids the importance of good nutrition and leading a healthy and active lifestyle."

The Hendrick Hudson School District will use federal funds to build an outdoor adventure course for their students. The District serves 2,832 students through one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools. The City School District of New Rochelle will utilize the funds to target obesity through work with the New York Medical College in Valhalla, the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and other community recreational organizations. The New Rochelle school district is comprised of one high school, one middle school, and six elementary schools. The Red Hook school district use federal funds to implement a major overhaul of its physical education program. The Ready for Action, Intelligently Developing Exercise & Eating Excellence Resulting in Self Enhancement Fit for Life Program, or "RAIDERS," will increase student awareness of personal health and fitness, train teachers to deliver a redesigned health-related physical education curriculum, purchase new equipment to teach health and fitness skills, and establish Wellness Centers to support individual student fitness programs.

The Department of Education's Carol M. White Physical Education Program provides funds to community organizations and educational organizations to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs for K-12 students in order to make progress toward meeting State standards for physical education by providing funds for equipment, support, and teacher training. Recipients of Carol M. White Physical Education Program grants must design and implement a program that clearly aligns to state standards for physical education and provide for one or more of the following: fitness education and assessment to help students understand, improve, or maintain physical well-being; instruction in motor skills and physical activities designed to enhance physical, mental, social, or emotional development; development of, and instruction in, cognitive concepts about motor skills and physical fitness that support healthy lifestyles; opportunities to develop positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation; instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition; and opportunities for professional development for physical education teachers to stay abreast of current research, issues, and trends in physical education.

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