Next week is National Education Week (November 16-20) and the NFL will participate by sending players to schools across the country as part of its "Take a Player to School" program. That initiative is one of many ways the NFL and its clubs promote and support education. In addition, individual NFL teams are involved in numerous local efforts in support of education. Following is a list of league-wide programs:

* TEACHER RECOGNITION: THE NFL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD PRESENTED BY MBNA honors elementary, primary and secondary school teachers who had a positive influence on NFL Players. Each month of the regular season, a panel of educators and government leaders selects a winning teacher from a pool of player nominations. The panel also selects a separate NFL Teacher of the Year who is honored at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Each Teacher of the Month receives a $2,500 grant, and the school where the player and teacher met is presented with a $5,000 scholarship. The NFL Teacher of the Year receives a $5,000 grant, and $10,000 is presented to the school for scholarships. More than $400,000 has been awarded through the program since it was instituted in 1990.

The 1998 NFL Teachers of the Month through November:

* STUDENT MOTIVATION: Thirty students nationwide – one in each NFL city -- win the opportunity to have an NFL player visit their school in the JCPenney/Starter "Take A Player TO SCHOOL" program. The initiative uses the popularity of NFL players to emphasize the importance of education and to provide positive messages to students. In addition, the NFL, JCPenney and Starter donate $1,000 to the school of each winner. The winning student also receives four tickets to a game of their hometown NFL team and a Starter merchandise package. After visiting with the winner’s class, the player appears at a special assembly to discuss the value of education and how it can lead to success on and off the field. Following the talk, the player fields questions from the youngsters.

An NFL educational video, "MAKE THE RIGHT CALL: AN NFL GAME PLAN FOR KIDS," is available to schools and community groups through the NFL office. The seven-minute video features present and former NFL players BOOMER ESIASON, FUAD REVEIZ, DERRICK THOMAS and STEVE YOUNG discussing the importance of education and teamwork, staying away from drugs and violence, and standing up to peer pressure.

"NFL DREAMS vs. NFL REALITIES" is a 12-minute videotape that was distributed to all Division I-A college football teams. It encourages players to stay in school and earn their degrees.

* CAMPS & CLINICS: Many NFL teams host "MINI-CAMPS FOR KIDS" each spring at stadiums and training camps across the country. The camps give urban children the opportunity to interact with NFL players, receiving football instruction as well as positive lifestyle messages.

CITY FOOTBALL is a youth football program that includes instructional, competitive and educational components for Housing Community Center children in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Oakland and Washington D.C. This year-long program consists of summer day camps, flag football leagues, and an NFL after-school learning program.

The SUPER BOWL YOUTH CLINIC is presented annually to 3,000 children in the host community during Super Bowl week. More than 70 NFL players representing all NFL teams participate in the event and deliver motivational messages to the children in addition to football instruction.

* COMMUNITY RESOURCES: The NFL YOUTH EDUCATION TOWN, a multi-faceted educational and recreational facility, is part of the NFL’s annual Super Bowl community relations program. The center’s computer facilities, library and classroom areas will provide tutoring and mentoring opportunities for at-risk youths. NFL YET centers are currently set up in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, New Orleans and San Diego.

* PLAYER EDUCATION: The NFL CONTINUING EDUCATION/DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM has been established for more than 1,600 NFL players. The program identifies schools in each NFL city that help players transfer credits, complete undergraduate and graduate degree requirements, take correspondence courses, and enroll in non-matriculated courses, such as public speaking and computer training. The program is coordinated on a league-wide basis by the NFL Player Programs Department. Outside consultation is provided by Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

* NFL CHARITIES makes grants to a variety of charitable and worthwhile causes on behalf of the member teams of the NFL. NFL Charities has supported numerous education-related endeavors since its formation in 1973. This year, NFL Charities will make grants totaling nearly $4 million to a wide range of non-profit organizations throughout the nation. Recipients include Special Olympics, the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the American Indian College Fund. Since its inception, NFL Charities has distributed more than $35 million to nearly 250 organizations. NFL Charities also allocates nearly $1 million to current and former player foundations. These programs are youth-oriented and promote education, physical fitness and the value of a healthy lifestyle. The foundations include the Troy Aikman Foundation, Pellum McDaniels Arts for Smarts and the Dan Marino Foundation.