SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

School districts are required to provide physical education to students by the New York State Education Law, the New York State Board of Regents Learning Standards and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Within the last year, it has come to the attention of the New York State Education Department (SED) that a significant number of school districts have not been in compliance with the physical education curriculum requirement. While SED has undertaken a review of compliance, this effort was limited to a certain region of the State, with general guidance memos disseminated to all school districts to increase adherence to this requirement. To build upon initial work that has been done to increase compliance, the Committee on Education seeks testimony to evaluate implementation of physical education programs throughout the State.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on compliance with required physical education classes are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Giovanni Warren
Assembly Committee on Education
Room 542 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: warreng@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455- 4881
Fax: (518) 455-4128

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