Physical fitness of California students improving

Physical fitness test scores for California students showed some improvement in 2005, but there is still work to be done, according to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

“I am pleased to announce the 2005 physical fitness test scores show some forward movement with a three to four percent increase in overall performance,” said 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,” he said.

State law requires school districts to administer a physical fitness test, designated by the State Board of Education, to all fifth-, seventhand-ninth graders annually. 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, more than 1.3 million students were tested.

The goal of the California physical fitness test is for stu

dents to achievthe minimum finess levels, or peformance standards, for all sifitness areas of thtest. In 2005, just 2percent 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 about 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.

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.

“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 (their) test scores in the future.”

For more information about the 2005 physical fitness test and results, visit the CDE’s website at www.cde.ca.gov.

This story provided by StatePoint Media.