Illinois Fitness Assessment

In January of 2016 the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted rules that require the administration of a fitness assessment to all students in grades 3-8. The purpose of this new requirement is to measure student progress towards the Illinois Learning Standard for Physical Development and Health goal 20 calling for students to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. ISBE rules call for administering the test once per year during the second semester. In order to gauge student growth our district has opted to administer the assessment during first and second semester.

Our Physical Education teachers will be using the FitnessGram assessment system.  Students will participate in four tests that determine aerobic capacity (grades 4-8 only), endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility. While this information will be useful for helping students improve and maintain individual fitness levels, performance on these assessments may not be used for issuing student grades. Data reported to the state will not include individual student identification information.

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the state has not required schools to give the FitnessGram Assessment during the 2021-2022 or 2022-2023 school years. 

Learn more about the IFA by visiting the ISBE Enhanced Physical Education website.

Learn more about each FitnessGram assessment by viewing the videos below.