Citing concerns about health disparities in the region, New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. is calling on the City Department of Education to comply with the state-mandated number of days that schoolchildren are provided with physical education classes.

“In many, if not most elementary schools, physical education classes are held merely once a week,” Thompson said in a letter to Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein. “Similarly, in many middle schools, physical education is provided only once per week.”

“It is critically important that our children be provided with healthy choices and proper guidance that will serve their long term best interests. I therefore strongly urge your office to address this issue in conjunction with our children’s other education needs.”

Thompson noted that State law requires that students in kindergarten through third grade participate daily in physical education classes. Students in grades 4 through 6 are required to attend gym class at least three times a week while grades 7 through 12 must attend at least three times a week in one semester or two times per week in the second semester.

The letter comes on the heels of Thompson’s report, “Health and Wealth: Assessing and Addressing Income Disparities in the Health of New Yorkers,” which pointed out that hospitalization and mortality rates have widened among New York City neighborhoods for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

The Comptroller’s analysis - available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov - examined the rates of various health condition hospitalizations and deaths by neighborhood since 1990, indicating that health disparities arise from a complex interaction of economic, social and environmental factors.

“Approximately 24 percent of New York City’s elementary school students are obese, creating grave consequences for their future health,” Comptroller Thompson said. “I am concerned about the City’s continuing failure to meet most of the State requirements regarding mandated school physical education.”

Thompson further asked the Department of Education to provide his office with details regarding measures that it has taken to address this matter.

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