Tennessee middle schools looking to improve their physical education programs can get a new PE curriculum, training for their teachers and equipment for their students through the Shape the State program of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation.
Now in its fifth year, the program has awarded 80 Shape the State grants, valued at $10,000 each to Tennessee schools serving middle grades students. Twenty more schools will be selected this year. Applications will be accepted on the Shape the State web site http://shapethestate.com/ March 16 through April 17. Winning schools will be announced May 17.
“Tennessee educators are eager for ways to improve their students’ health status and we are pleased to offer them this opportunity,” said Calvin Anderson, BlueCross senior vice president and executive director of the foundation. “It has been gratifying to see the first 80 Shape the State schools take their students health to a higher level.”
In addition to supplying the acclaimed SPARK physical education curriculum, teacher training and equipment, schools earning the grants get an additional $1,000 to spend at their discretion on their health, nutrition and wellness programs.