Kicks Off 2nd Annual Superintendents' Challenge to Encourage Good Nutrition and Exercise

LOS ANGELES — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced results of a statewide survey of student physical fitness. To challenge students to stay active and eat right, O'Connell also kicked off the second annual Superintendents' Challenge.

"The 2004 results indicate an unacceptable percentage of California public school students did not achieve the minimum fitness levels for each of the fitness areas tested," said O'Connell. "We have a long way to go to eradicate the silent epidemic of childhood obesity and poor nutritional health."

The annual physical fitness test designated for California public school students is the FITNESSGRAM® developed by The Cooper Institute. Last spring 1,348,420 students in grades five, seven, and nine were tested. This test assesses six major fitness areas, including aerobic capacity (cardiovascular endurance), body composition (percent of body fat), abdominal strength and endurance, trunk strength and flexibility, upper body strength and endurance, and overall flexibility. A number of test options are provided for most of the fitness areas so that all students, including those with special needs, have the maximum opportunity to participate.

The goal is for students to achieve the minimum fitness levels, or performance standards, for all six fitness areas of the physical fitness test. The results showed little difference between the grades. Twenty-five percent of the students in grade five, 29 percent in grade seven, and 26 percent in grade nine achieved the fitness standards for all six areas. Overall, 27 percent of the students in the three grades achieved the performance goal for all six areas of the test.

Aerobic capacity is considered to be the most important of the six fitness areas because of recent research that associates good aerobic capacity with a reduction in many health problems. Only about half (50 to 59 percent) of the students across the three grades met the minimum standard for aerobic capacity.

This is the fifth year for reporting physical fitness test results in California public schools since the statewide assessment was reestablished by Assembly Bill 265. The law requires that school districts administer a physical fitness test, designated by the State Board of Education, to all fifth, seventh, and ninth graders annually.

All public schools in California are required to report results of physical fitness testing annually in their school accountability report cards. Schools are also required to provide students with their individual results.

Today O'Connell also announced the kickoff of the second annual Superintendent's Challenge. The Superintendents' Challenge is a coordinated effort between the California Department of Education and the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness.

The task force was created by legislation authored by Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) in 2002 to address the critical issues of physical fitness and nutritional health in California 's schools and workplaces. As part of that ongoing effort, the Superintendents' Challenge invites local school districts across California to improve the health of their students through the development and implementation of policies that promote proper nutrition and regular physical activity.

"When we want our students to meet higher academic standards, it's important that schools stay focused on improving student health and fitness," O'Connell said. "Strong bodies and strong minds work together to help students succeed. That's why I once again challenge all school districts to implement nutrition and physical activity programs that promote student health."

Each school district that takes up the Challenge by providing healthier meals, nutrition education, physical activity programs, and quality physical education experiences will receive recognition from the CDE and the state Senate. The most exemplary districts will receive a cash award of up to $10,000, based on available funding.

"Today we push our students to work hard to learn the rigorous standards we have adopted," stated O'Connell. "A healthy, active, well-rested student is better prepared to tackle those challenges."

The 2004 physical fitness results for schools, school districts, counties, and the state are available on the CDE Web site at Physical Fitness Testing (PFT) - Testing. No individual student data are reported on the Internet.