IL HB5397

Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, all public schools must use a scientifically-based, health-related physical fitness assessment for grades 3 through 12 to measure aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.

Physical fitness assessment scores shall not be used for grading students or evaluating teachers, but must be integrated into curriculum as an instructional tool to teach students to assess their fitness levels, set improvement goals, and monitor progress.

State Superintendent of Education shall appoint a 15-member task force by October 1, 2014 to recommend assessment protocols, reporting frequency, grade levels, demographic information collection, data confidentiality protections, and public reporting methods, with recommendations due by April 1, 2015.

State Board of Education shall adopt rules for implementation by December 31, 2015 and establish a data collection and reporting system by September 1, 2016 to collect aggregated fitness information from school districts.

School districts may report aggregate fitness assessment findings to parents and community members through websites, newsletters, and school board reports, and may provide individual fitness reports to parents.