Foundation honored for restoring P.E. in public schools

The Oregon Sports Authority Foundation was recently honored by the Physical Education for All Kids (PEAK) coalition in recognition of its advocacy and leadership in helping to restore physical education to Oregon Schools in the 2007 legislature.  Awards were given to Foundation director Owen Blank and Oregon Sports Authority Foundation CEO Drew Mahalic, as well as Julia Brim-Edwards of Nike.  

“The Oregon Sports Authority Foundation was critical to the passage of HB 3141 during the 2007 legislative session,” stated John Valley Oregon Government Affairs Director for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.  “HB 3141 established the minimum minutes standard for how much physical education is to be taught in Oregon and provided the initial funding to start the grant program to assist schools in meeting those minute standards.”

“We are delighted to have played a key role in the passage of PE reform in Oregon public schools,” said Oregon Sports Authority Foundation CEO Drew Mahalic.  “The PEAK coalition is a tremendous example of what can be achieved when government, business and civic leaders join together for a worthwhile common cause, in this case a cause that will positively impact the lives of Oregon children for years to come.”

In addition to the minimum PE standards, the grant program created by the passage House Bill 3141 earlier this year is now up and running.  Grant applications are being accepted by the Oregon Department of Education through January 15 to provide professional development to teachers in meeting the minute standards.  Grants will be awarded on February 15.  The grant application can be accessed at http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/announcements/announcement.aspx?=3238.

Later in January there will be an additional grant application available to school districts to hire new PE teachers in order to meet the new minute standards.  For now the grants are specifically dealing with professional development.

The mission of the Oregon Sports Authority Foundation is to facilitate active participation in sports, physical education, and related programs with an emphasis on opportunities for underserved youth across Oregon through advocacy, financial support, and program creation.