WHPE July Update
Summer Days!
Hi everyone,
It's hard to believe that in about a month we will be heading back to school. Hopefully everyone has been resting and enjoying time with family and friends. Last week we had over 127 professionals do a different type of refreshing themselves. They spent 2-3 days in Stevens Point at the DPI Best Practices conference. It was a phenomenal conference with both health and physical education professionals sharing best practices. We were inspired by Paul Zientarski with his opening Keynote Speech (and he will be presenting at the WHPE state convention). We ended with Judy LoBianco's challenge to have the moral courage to do the right thing regardless of the consequences. We need to stand up for our students and our profession. This includes trying to working with our peers to ensure that we provide the best instruction for our students.
Please make certain that you check out the information on the ESSA. It is very important for you to learn as much as you can so you can start advocating in your school and district to have some ESSA funds from Title IV allocated to health and physical education.
One last item, "Pokeman Go". This came out of nowhere but when you get back in September, how can you take advantage of this new phenomena? This is where are students are at.
Have a great rest of July everyone!
Sincerely,
Brett Fuller
WHPE President
"We're Built to Move"
"I Can Move" by Dr. Monica Lounsby and Thom McKenzie
Many districts are asking to build reading into our physical education classes, including elementary schools. In some other cases we are asked to provide some reading resources to classroom teachers.
Check out this new book, I Can Move from Monica Lunsby and Thom McKenzie for children ages 2-6. Here is the website associated with the book: www.movingpeoplemore.com
You can get the book at: http://www.amazon.com/I-Can-Move-Monica-Lounsbery/dp/099702030X?ie=UTF8&qid=1462920942&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&sr=8-2
***WHPE Advocacy Alert: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Update***
NOW is the time for Title 1 Schools to get involved with ESSA in their districts!
The new Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) identifies school health and physical education as part of a student’s “well-rounded education,” along with other subjects such as art, music, civics, science and more. This new federal education legislation provides increased access to funds for health and PE programs (including professional development) for Title I schools, and allows states and school districts to set their own priorities for funding and accountability. (SHAPE America)
Since this is the first time PE and Health will be included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act within ESSA, this is a critical time to share our voices and represent health and physical education at the table as decisions are made in the months ahead. Use the following tools to learn more about ESSA and how you can become that voice in your school district.
http://www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy/essa.cfm/
As part of ESSA, each state will receive an allocation (block grants) based on the Title I funding formula. Using the same Title I formula, states will then allocate funds to Title I school districts.
Under ESSA, Title II funds will support educator professional development.
Title IV, Part A authorizes activities in three general areas:
Providing students with a well-rounded education
Supporting safe and healthy students
Supporting the use of effective technology
Please see the following SHAPE America link for important details about the distribution of funds within ESSA.
http://www.shapeamerica.org/events/speakoutday/upload/TITLE-IV-fact-sheet-SHAPE-America-temp.pdf
Why should I get involved in ESSA? Why is NOW the time to be involved?
The Federal PEP grants that have supported many PE programs in WI are in their final cycle this year as No Child Left Behind is phased out. ESSA block grants will be distributed to each state and qualifying school districts to use as they see fit. Health and PE are now part of 18 subject areas that can tap into these funds. We need to speak up for our profession NOW, and capitalize on the opportunity to use HPE to support the three areas of Title IV initiatives within your district school improvement plans.
How should I get involved with ESSA in my district?
Become informed and stay current on ESSA updates from WHPE and SHAPE America, following the links above.
Begin having conversations about ESSA with your district administrators and the role HPE can play in Title IV and school improvement plans. Ask to be included in district committees that develop regarding ESSA.
If a needs assessment needs to be completed, be ready to complete those towards the end of first semester. Stay tuned for more information on this. From the needs assessment, be prepared to identify areas that need improvement and could be supported by ESSA.
Develop a rationale for how Title II funds would help support professional development needs that target all three areas of Title IV.
Contact these WHPE and WI DPI leaders with questions you may have about ESSA:
Brett Fuller- WHPE President fullerba@sbcglobal.net
Patty Kestell- WHPE President-Elect/Advocacy Chair pkestell@cedarburg.k12.wi.us
Keith Bakken- WHPE CEO kbakken@eagle.uwlax.edu
Brett Fuller, 2014-16 WHPE President
Email: whpe@uwlax.edu
Website: www.whpe.us
Location: WHPE, 145 Mitchell Hall, UW-LaCrosse, 1725 State Street, WI, 54601
Phone: 608-785-8175 1-800-441-4568
Twitter: @BrettAFuller