The Latest on PEP

In July the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a fiscal year 2006 spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services that contains $74 million for Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grants. This amount is $19 million more than the president’s request. The good news is tempered by a bit of bad, however, because language in the budget proposal indicates that the intention is to terminate the PEP program after fiscal year 2007, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). NASPE hopes the Senate committee report will help ensure renewed grant funding in the new year.

The PEP grant program provides financial support for local educational agencies and community-based organizations to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs. Since 2001, PEP has provided $259 million to schools, local educational agencies and community programs, says NASPE. For more information and to stay current on the latest legislative news regarding PEP, visit www.aahperd.org/NASPE/.