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PFT
Physical Fitness Test
The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) for students in California schools is the FITNESSGRAM®. The main goal of the test is to help students in starting life-long habits of regular physical activity.
PFT Administration Overview
The Physical Fitness Test is a comprehensive, health-related physical fitness battery of tests for students in California. The State Board of Education designated the FITNESSGRAM® as the PFT for students in California public schools. The test has six parts that show a level of fitness that offer a degree of defense against diseases that come from inactivity. The test results can be used by students, teachers, and parents.
The California Physical Fitness Test website is used to collect annual student PFT data from each LEA. This is your source to access the PFT District Portal, PFT resources, PFT modules, videos, and trainings.
This web page contains information on how to access the state, county, and district summary data for the PFT.
The CDE's PFT Web page is your source for access to information regarding the purpose and content of the PFT, background information, PFT schedule, and many other resources.
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PFT CalEdFacts - this content is part of CDE's information guide about education in the State of California.
PFT Coordinator Meeting Resources
Manuals
- PFT Coordinator Manual - this manual provides PFT Coordinators with the information and resources needed to prepare, coordinate, and carry out all the activities associated with the PFT.
Training
- PFT Training - Materials offered on that Web page include training modules to assist PFT coordinators with the submission and correction of PFT data and video clips that demonstrate a FITNESSGRAM test administration using California's testing protocol (i.e., an employee of the district administering and scoring the tests.)
- PACER Video [6:00 minutes]
- Walk Test Video [3:47 minutes]
- One-Mile Run Video [4:08 minutes]
- Curl-Up Video [4:54 minutes]
- Skinfold Measurements Video [3:52 minutes]
- Body Mass Index Video [3:01 minutes]
- Bioelectric Impedance Analyzer Video [3:42 minutes]
- Trunk Lift Video [3:37 minutes]
- Push-Up Video [3:29 minutes]
- Shoulder Stretch Video [3:27 minutes]
- Modified Pull-Up Video [3:14 minutes]
- Flexed-Arm Hang Video [3:20 minutes]
- Back-Saver Sit and Reach Video [4:40 minutes]
Resources
- PFT Fact Sheet
- This one–page documents answer questions about the what, why, who, how, and when for the PFT.
- Physical Fitness Test Resources
- Provides a list of resources for LEAs, and LEA staff including contacts for CDE, FITNESSGRAM® and calculates BMI and VO2 max.
- PFT Reference Guide (PDF)
- This guide is designed to assist staff in becoming familiar with the California PFT. It includes detailed descriptions of the fitness areas, the data collection requirements, most of the equations used in scoring, the performance standards, and suggestions for facilitating the administration of the different test options.
- Matrix Two
- Matrix of variations, and accommodations for administration of the PFT.
- FITNESSGRAM® Fitness Areas, Test Options, and Equipment
- Charts that show the test options available for each fitness area and the equipment required for each test.
- FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness Zone Performance Standard
- This document contains the Healthy Fitness Zones for all students. The Healthy Fitness Zones are the performance goals for all test areas.
- FITNESSGRAM® PACER Look-Up and Goals Setting Table
- This table provides the minimum number of 20-meter (20m) laps that females and males need to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) for the PACER. Results or the PACER test are still reported as VO2max.
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Q. Who takes the PFT?
A. Eligible students enrolled in California public schools in grades five, seven, and nine. Students with disabilities should be given as much of the test as each student's physical condition permits. The individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan team is responsible for deciding how students with disabilities will participate in the PFT.
Training
- PFT Training - Materials offered on that Web page include training modules to assist PFT coordinators with the submission and correction of PFT data and video clips that demonstrate a FITNESSGRAM test administration using California's testing protocol (i.e., an employee of the district administering and scoring the tests.)
Resources
- Matrix Two - matrix of variations, accommodations, and modifications for the administration of the CELDT and PFT.
- Matrix Three - test variations for administration of the PFT for English learners and modifications for administration of the PFT.
- FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness Zone Charts - standards established by The Cooper Institute that represent levels of fitness that offer some degree of protection against diseases that can results from sedentary living. These standards are organized by gender and age.
- FITNESSGRAM: Fitness Areas and Test Options - areas, options, and equipment used to measure a student's fitness in the California PFT.
- PACER Look-Up and Goal Setting Table - This table provides the minimum number of 20-meter (20m) laps that females and males need to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) for the PACER. Results of PACER test are still reported as VO2max.
- PFT BMI and VO2max Calculator with Healthy Fitness Zones® - An Excel spreadsheet that provides Aerobic Capacity Fitness Areas and BMI Healthy Fitness Zones and calculates BMI and VO2max.
How To Videos - The FITNESSGRAM®is composed of the following six fitness areas, with a number of test options provided for most areas:
- Aerobic Capacity
- PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)
- One-Mile Run
- Walk Test (only for ages 13 or older)
- Abdominal Strength and Endurance
- Curl-Up
- Upper Body Strength and Endurance
- Push-Up
- Modified Pull-Up
- Flexed-Arm Hang
- Body Composition
- Skinfold Measurements
- Body Mass Index
- Bioelectric Impedance Analyzer
- Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
- Trunk Lift
- Flexibility
- Back-Saver Sit and Reach
- Shoulder Stretch
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Parent Guides
- Guide to Understanding your PFT Student Score Report - this guide explains the PFT student score report.
- A Parent Guide to Understanding the PFT and FITNESSGRAM® - provides parents with answers to key questions about the what, why, who, how, and when of the PFT.
Resources & Videos
- Physical Education Course Exemptions - Information about exempting high school students from PE courses due to Senate Bills (SB) 78, 601, and 602, which have changed Education Code, Section 51241.
- Presidential Fitness Campaign - The Presidential Youth Fitness Program now assesses health using the FITNESSGRAM®. Resources include information about the program, training for educators, and videos to help students reach their fitness goals.
- What is Body Composition? - This short video explains body composition in non-scientific terms that can be used by teachers, students, and parents.
- What is Aerobic Capacity? - This short video explains aerobic capacity in non-scientific terms that can be used by teachers, students, and parents.
How To Videos - The FITNESSGRAM®is composed of the following six fitness areas, with a number of test options provided for most areas:
- Aerobic Capacity
- PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)
- One-Mile Run
- Walk Test (only for ages 13 or older)
- Abdominal Strength and Endurance
- Upper Body Strength and Endurance
- Body Composition
- Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
- Flexibility