Republican State Rep. Scott Cepicky last week filed legislation to promote student health and wellness in schools across Tennessee.
House Bill 1466 will require public schools in the Volunteer State to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to assess students’ strength, endurance and flexibility.
“Physical fitness is vital to improving the well-being of children across the Volunteer State,” said Cepicky. “Students will once again get to experience the healthy competition and patriotism associated with the time-honored Presidential Fitness Test. This legislation is a vital step in continued Republican efforts to make Tennessee healthy again by encouraging 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.
“President Trump wants every young American to have the opportunity to emphasize healthy, active lifestyles — creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in July.
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 in May 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.
The second session of the 114th General Assembly is scheduled to convene at noon on Jan. 13.
Rep. 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.
Cepicky has not voiced an opinion about whether he believes any of the Legislators, lobbyists or press corps on Capitol Hill could pass the fitness test.
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