How did this come about?

Public Act 098-0859, which requires all public schools, from the 2016-17 school year onwards, to administer scientifically-based, health-related physical fitness assessments for grades 3-12 for select fitness components and to periodically report that information to the Illinois State Board of Education .

​The physical fitness assessments will serve two purposes: 1) to teach students how to assess their fitness levels, set goals for improvement, and monitor progress in reaching their goals, and 2) to measure the effectiveness of State Goal 20 of the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health. The goal of Illinois State Learning Standard 20 is for students to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness based upon continual self-assessment.

​ISBE require schools to administer annual fitness testing for the following fitness components for all grades 3-12, and to report to ISBE aggregate results for grades 5, 7 and 10 each year: Aerobic capacity (Grades 4-12 only), Flexibility, Muscular endurance and Muscular strength.

I will be testing the students twice during the school year. Once towards the beginning, and once towards the end of the year.  I will use the results to help teach the students regarding setting SMART goals to help enhance their fitness levels.  

Aerobic Capacity 

Aerobic capacity is perhaps the most important component of any fitness program. Research indicates that acceptable levels of aerobic capacity are associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and other health problems in adults. ​

Test: PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)

Flexibility, Muscular Endurance, Muscular Strength 

Tests of muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility have been combined into one broad fitness category because the primary consideration is determining the functional health status of the musculoskeletal system. It is equally important to have strong muscles that can work forcefully and over a period of time and to be flexible enough to have a full range of motion at the joint. Musculoskeletal injuries are often the result of muscle imbalance at a specific joint; the muscles on one side may be much stronger than the opposing muscles or may not be flexible enough to allow complete motion or sudden motion to occur.​

Tests: Sit and Reach, Curl-Ups, Push-Ups