NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A proposal by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, to promote student health and wellness in Tennessee schools advanced out of the House Education Administration Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1466 will require public schools in the Volunteer State to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to assess students’ strength, endurance and flexibility. “Tennessee […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A proposal by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, to promote student health and wellness in Tennessee schools advanced out of the House Education Administration Subcommittee this week.
House Bill 1466 will require public schools in the Volunteer State to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to assess students’ strength, endurance and flexibility.
“Tennessee is setting the standard by helping students become healthier and more successful,” said Cepicky. “The Presidential Fitness Test will forge a culture of wellness in classrooms across our state by enhancing mental and physical health. This proposal is a critical component of our continued efforts to improve academic outcomes by promoting active lifestyles and a balanced diet.”
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) will provide guidance to local education agencies and public charter schools on the requirements associated with the test. Students can receive the Presidential Fitness Award if they meet the parameters set forth by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Students with an individualized education program (IEP) will be provided with reasonable accommodations and will not be required to test if they are unable to do so safely. Performance on the test will not negatively impact a student’s grade in any class.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31 reviving the Presidential Fitness Test, which was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. It included a one-mile run, pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups, a shuttle run, and a sit-and-reach test before it was discontinued in the 2012-13 school year.
House Bill 1466 will encourage Tennessee students to be more active and make healthier choices amid alarming health trends.
Nearly 40% of Tennessee students were overweight or obese in the 2023-24 academic year, according to a report from the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Department of Education.
Cepicky passed a new law last year to increase recess time for Tennessee students from 15 minutes per day to at least 40, promoting a more productive school day and encouraging additional physical activity.
House Bill 1466 is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Feb. 17.
State Rep. Scott Cepicky represents District 64 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Maury County. He is chairman of the House Education Instruction Subcommittee.