West Virginia Department of Education Division of Educator Quality & System Support Office of Healthy Schools Executive Summary 2011-12 FITNESSGRAM® Results

W.Va. State Code §18-2-7a … (d) The State Board shall prescribe a program within the existing health and physical education program which incorporates fitness testing, reporting, recognition, fitness events and incentive programs which requires the participation in grades four through eight and the required high school course…

In October 2005, the West Virginia Board of Education revised Policy 2520.6 Physical Education Content Standards and Objectives to require annual administration of the FITNESSGRAM® in grades four through eight and high school physical education courses beginning with the 2006-07 school year. Professional development in the administration of the FITNESSGRAM® was provided by the Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) and county staff development sessions for both new and veteran teachers to insure uniformity in conducting the assessment. All 55 counties administer the FITNESSGRAM®, and over 100,000 West Virginia students were tested last year.

School principals report grade level FITNESSGRAM® results through the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) Tenth Month Report. For each test category, schools report the number of students tested and the number of students performing in the “healthy zone” as defined by the FITNESSGRAM®. Tested and reported categories include: aerobic capacity, body composition, curl- up, upper body strength, flexibility and trunk lift. Statewide trend results for all grade levels from the past six years are depicted in following table.

Trends from 2007-2012: Percentage of Students in the Healthy Fitness Zones

Body Curl Upper Body Year Aerobic Composition Up Strength Flexibility Trunk Lift 2011-12 66 68 82 68 80 88 2010-11 65 67 82 69 80 88 2009-10 68 68 82 69 81 87 2008-09 68 68 82 69 80 87 2007-08 69 67 83 70 81 87 2006-07 65 68 82 69 81 86 Conclusion:

1 Trend data indicates the assessments have been conducted uniformly throughout the past six years and there has been very little change in each testing category. The majority of students are performing in the Healthy Fitness Zone in all areas. Major concerns continue to be aerobic capacity, body composition, and upper body strength.

Results of the FitnessGram® is posted on the Office of Healthy Schools website http://wvde.state.wv.us/healthyschools/FitnessGram.htm. Information from this report should be used for the continuous improvement of physical education programs and related professional development. County school systems are encouraged to review the FitnessGram® data for their county schools and determine needs related to improving performance. Counties may employ a variety of strategies to improve including but not limited to: professional development for physical education teachers covering correct test administration and record keeping tools, test data analysis, curriculum mapping and instructional strategies to design the physical education program to improve students fitness in the areas of greatest need.

The WVDE Office of Healthy Schools and Regional Education Service Agency School Wellness Specialists are available to assist county school systems with the following:  training teachers for administrating the FitnessGram® to students  analyzing the trend FitnessGram® data  utilizing the FitnessGram® data in planning professional development for physical educators  coordinating physical education professional development in creating curricula based on the FitnessGram® data

Note: Fitness test results are just one tool used to measure student progress in physical education. In order to determine student mastery of the 21st Century Wellness and Physical Education Content Standards and Objectives, multiple forms of assessment should be used. Therefore, the WVDE Office of Healthy Schools will continue to design professional development to provide physical education teachers with a variety of instructional strategies that include performance assessment materials that can be used in their classrooms.

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