Governor Doyle Announces $417,000 in Recovery Act Grants for Wisconsin Active Schools Project

Funding Will Help Increase Physical Activity Among Wisconsin Students

Gov. Jim Doyle

Madison, WI  – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that 19 school districts will receive grants totaling $417,652 for Wisconsin’s Active Schools Project to increase physical activity among students in 26 elementary, middle and high schools. The competitive award to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is part of $119.5 million going to just 13 states as part of the “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” initiative funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This funding will help us put our young people on the right track to being healthy adults,” Governor Doyle said. “Unless we do more to prevent chronic diseases, we will never be able to bring health care spending under control. This is great news for Wisconsin’s kids, and I want to thank the Obama Administration for making the well-being of our young people a top priority.”

The Active Schools Project is part of the state’s plan to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, and improve nutrition among children – three important actions for preventing chronic disease and promoting health. The Active Schools Project will increase options for physical activity in schools and school-linked settings to help young people achieve 60 minutes of daily activity.

“We are pleased to be a partner in this effort to improve the overall health of our students,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “Healthy students are better learners. These grants will help us learn more about school programs and environments that instill habits of physical activity in young people. Our goal is to help students lead healthier lives, have more success in schools, and be better prepared for the workforce.”

Selected schools will increase active time in physical education class, assess student fitness levels, increase active play during recess, increase intramural sports options, open facilities before and after school for physical activity, and increase activity in after-school programs. The Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with the Department of Health Services, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and multiple other community partners, will provide training and technical assistance to the 26 schools.

Governor Doyle has worked hard to ensure the good health of Wisconsin’s children, including through his support of nutritious food options in schools. In the past year, the Governor has helped secure more than $1.6 million in federal funds for Wisconsin schools and residential child care institutions to purchase equipment to improve food service operations. As part of his Healthy Kids initiatives, the Governor has also expanded the school breakfast program.

Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has taken major steps to improve education in Wisconsin. In his first term, the Governor protected schools from a Republican-led State Legislature’s attempt to slash education funding by $400 million – a cut that would have devastated our schools and our students. The Governor increased funding for small class sizes, increased funding for special education, expanded school breakfast programs, expanded 4-year old kindergarten programs, and invested in early childhood education. Governor Doyle also created the Wisconsin Covenant, a pathway to higher education for every hardworking Wisconsin student.

To learn more about Wisconsin’s prevention and wellness projects, please visit: http://dhs.wi.gov/health/physicalactivity

To learn more about the Active Schools project, please visit: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/cshp.html

Posted @ 5:30 p.m.