American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:
Statement on New York City Council Passage of Legislation Requiring Public Reporting on Physical Education Programs
NEW YORK, NY – October 29, 2015 – The New York City Council has passed legislation that will require all New York City public schools to publicly report details of their physical education programs, including the time spent in physical education, who is instructing, and other aspects which can indicate the quality and quantity of the program. This will hopefully motivate schools to comply with the minimum physical education time requirements set by state regulations.
Michael Davoli, New York metro government relations director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), released the following statement.
“ACS CAN applauds the New York City Council and bill sponsor Elizabeth Crowley for addressing the important public health issue of physical education in schools.
“Once enacted, this new law will require reporting of the physical education programing actually achieved in schools and details on the quality of those programs. ACS CAN looks at this as a first step to assuring healthier students, with a decreased risk of obesity-related diseases such as cancer.
“Physical education not only helps reduce the number of children who are obese, but also helps these students lead longer, healthier and happier lives.
“It is widely known that many New York City school children are not getting the physical education programing they need and deserve despite a state law which requires it. This New York City law will go a long way toward improving the health of students and helping parents understand what is happening in their child’s school.
“About one in six children and adolescents ages six to 19 are obese. These children have a much greater risk than their healthy weight peers of developing and dying from chronic diseases in adulthood. There is also significant evidence that shows children who are physically active perform better academically.
“ACS CAN looks forward to working with New York’s leaders in government and education to further address this crucial issue.”
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit. www.fightcancer.org.
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