The U.S. Department of Education awarded $17 million in new PEP grants to 54 schools in 20 states. The balance of the $73 million Congress allocated for PEP in 2006 will be applied toward existing multi-year grants awarded in 2004 and 2005. While the growth in the program is a positive sign, the future of PEP funding is still up in the air.

According to SGMA, Congress is determining the funding level for PEP in 2007. The U.S. Senate has proposed $72 million, while the U.S. House of Representatives and President Bush have recommended $26.8 million, only enough to fund existing grants. SGMA is working in D.C. to ensure as much funding as possible for this program and encourages its members to contact Congress in support of the Senate proposal of $72 million. SGMA has written a letter which any sporting goods manufacturer can customize and send via SGMA’s website. Regardless of which spending plan is approved, it appears there will be cuts in the PEP budget.

Since the PEP Bill was created in 2001, more than $325 million in P.E. funds have been distributed via more than 840 PEP grants.