Illinois’ New Physical Fitness Assessment
January 09, 2017
Starting second semester of the 2016-2017 school year, all Illinois public schools are required to administer a physical fitness assessment to students in grades 3-12. Illinois has selected FITNESSGRAM , a health-related fitness test that is intended to help students acquire lasting habits of regular physical activity.
The four required areas of fitness assessment are as follows:
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For Aerobic Capacity, grades 4-12 will take the PACER test (recommended) or Mile Run Test (alternate) or Brockport test (adapted);
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For Flexibility, grades 3-12 will take the Back-Saver Sit and Reach test (recommended) or Trunk Lift test (alternate) or Brockport test (adapted);
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For Muscular Endurance, grades 3-12 will take the Curl-Up test or Brockport test (adapted); and
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For Muscular Strength, grades 3-12 will take the Push-Up test or Brockport test (adapted).
For each fitness area of the FITNESSGRAM, a student’s performance is classified into the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) or Needs Improvement (NI). The desired performance goal for each test option is the HFZ, which represents a level of fitness that offers some protection against the diseases related to physical inactivity. The NI designation indicates an area of fitness where a student would benefit from activities designed to improve performance in that area.
Our students will receive their results upon completion which will help them understand their individual levels of fitness. Students are encouraged to talk about these results with their parents or guardians and their physical education teacher to plan appropriate fitness activities.
If you have any questions about these assessments, videos are available online through YouTube or you may contact your child’s Physical Education teacher.
