November 21, 2005
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces 2005
Physical Fitness Test Results for California Students
Kicks Off 3rd Annual Superintendents' Challenge to Encourage
Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Schools
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released the results of a statewide survey of student physical fitness. To challenge students to eat right and exercise more, O'Connell also kicked off the third annual Superintendents' Challenge.
"I am pleased to announce the 2005 physical fitness test scores show some forward movement with a 3 to 4 percent increase in overall performance," stated O'Connell. "But there are still far too many students failing to reach even minimal levels of physical fitness. A silent epidemic of obesity and poor nutrition is endangering our children's health and their ability to learn. This physical fitness test is just one more reminder that we need to rededicate our commitment to turn this trend around."
State law requires school districts to administer a physical fitness test, designated by the State Board of Education, to all fifth, seventh, and ninth graders annually. The physical fitness test designated for California public school students is the FITNESSGRAM®, developed by The Cooper Institute. The test assesses six major fitness areas, including aerobic capacity (cardiovascular endurance), body composition (percentage 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. This year, 1,374,283 students were tested. (A complete description of the physical fitness test, including the fitness areas and test options, is available at PFT Overview Packet - Physical Fitness Testing (PFT)).
The goal of the California physical fitness test is for students to achieve the minimum fitness levels, or performance standards, for all six fitness areas of the test. In 2005, just 25 percent of the students in grade five, 29 percent in grade seven, and 27 percent in grade nine achieved the fitness standards for all six areas of the test. A comparison of the results for the last three years does reveal some improvement, with approximately 3 to 4 percent more students achieving the minimum fitness levels across all areas of the test.
Only 56 percent of the students across the three grades met the targeted performance standard for aerobic capacity, considered the most important of the six areas tested. Recent research associates good aerobic capacity with a reduction in many health problems.
This is the sixth year for reporting physical fitness test results in California public schools. The 2005 physical fitness results for schools, school districts, counties and the state are available on the CDE Web site at Physical Fitness Testing (PFT) - Testing. 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. However, no individual student data is reported on the Internet.
Under the guidance of O'Connell, the California Department of Education (CDE) recently developed physical education content standards outlining what students need to know and be able to do in physical education at each grade level. The State Board of Education adopted the standards in January 2005.
"For the first time, our schools and teachers have content standards that are consistent statewide," said O'Connell. "I'm hopeful these new standards will help improve our students' health as well as our FITNESSGRAM® test scores in the future."
O'Connell also encouraged school districts to participate in the 2005 Superintendents' Challenge, a program that encourages districts to promote proper nutrition and regular physical activities in school.
"We ask our students to rise to the challenge of higher academic standards in our schools," stated O'Connell. "But it takes both a strong mind and a strong body to work together to succeed. That's why I once again challenge all school districts to implement nutrition and physical activity policies that promote student health."
Additional information and application guidelines for the 2005 Superintendents' Challenge are no longer available.
