RUMFORD — In response to serious threats of cuts to the federal funding of the bi-partisan Every Student Succeeds Act, Rumford/Mexico, physical education teacher, Kristin Tyler, from Mountain Valley High School/Meroby Elementary School, headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for full funding to support professional development for teachers and health and physical education programs in schools.

Tyler and Maine AHPERD colleagues Andrew Gray, Waterboro, and Maria Newcomb, Waldoboro, asked lawmakers to fully fund the federal education program, Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, under ESSA.

Tyler joined more than 200 fellow health and physical educators, representing nearly 50 states on Capitol Hill, to take part in the SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators 10th annual member lobby day, SPEAK Out! Day, on April 25 and 26.

Mountain Valley High School and Meroby Elementary School are part of the RSU 10 school district. The health and physical education departments have felt the full effect of the reduced funding for schools.

In 2004 and 2008 they received the Carol M. White PEP grants, which allowed them to achieve a quality of programming that the community fiscally supported for years. During that time the health and physical education programs were recognized as “Schools of Excellence” by the state.

When the Title IV funds started declining in conjunction with state funding, the programs began to suffer. Through significant reductions in staffing for physical education programs, minutes and times per week students have physical education have been reduced, falling short of SHAPE America’s recommendations for daily physical activity and physical education minutes.

In addition, reduced budgets have created challenges in the maintenance of equipment and supplies and therefore have impacted the quality of programming accustomed to offering in the K-12 curriculum.

According to SHAPE America’s Senior Manager of Advocacy Carly Wright, the feedback from education stakeholders will be considered, and ESSA plans will be submitted by September.