California Physical Education as Risk!

I received this e-mail today, forwarded by the Chair of my department. Please Read and Help!

California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

CAHPERD ACTION ALERT

YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED !

Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered the Legislature into Special Session to address the state budget crisis. On Friday, February 15th they passed a bill to cut the $41 million Physical Education Teacher Incentive Program Grant from this year's budget. Those funds now will be taken from the school districts who received them. Funding for physical education in the 2008-09 budget is at significant risk and WE must take action NOW !

What should I do ?

1. Contact both your Senator and Assembly member and tell them how
you want them to represent YOU in the decision making process. Send a letter, an email, or call their office. Find your Senator and/or Assembly Member by clicking here: www.legislature.ca.gov/

What do I write in my letter ?

1. The three main points are as follows:

a. The Physical Education Teacher Incentive Program must be maintained in the budget because of the important infrastructure it builds in our K-12 physical education programs.

b. This program has long-term education and financial benefits. Active

Californian's are healthy and save our state money.

c. We oppose any language that permits local school districts to use these funds for any other purpose.


2. You can find a sample letter on the CAHPERD website www.cahperd.org.

Look for the "Action Alert" in the upper right corner.

What else should I do ?

1. Ask at least 5 friends, neighbors, family members, or colleagues to do the same. Give them the information they need and provide important points so the task is simple for them and they can get it completed immediately.

2. Call at least 5 physical educators that you know and ask if they got this action alert. Share the information with them and ask them to follow all of the action steps.

We need thousands of responses to get to Sacramento

in the next 24 hours if we are to save our funds.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW !

This is a professional priority for California's Physical Educators !