National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is the Perfect Time to Get Started with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program

In the classroom, teachers use test results to help students set appropriate improvement goals and to decide where to allocate instructional resources and time in the future. Just like in the classroom, testing in physical education helps PE teachers make informed decisions about the support they provide to students, based on their abilities.

For tens of thousands of schools nationwide, the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) provides that assessment opportunity – and much more. Managed by the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, the PYFP offers educators free access to a health-related assessment for youth fitness, professional development to assist educators in meaningful implementation, and motivational recognition for students.

The PYFP is constantly evolving to align with current best practices, too. The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition ended its decades-long promotion of the old Youth Fitness Test when it launched the PYFP and announced the adoption of The Cooper Institute’s FitnessGram® assessment. Founding partners SHAPE America, which provided a variety of professional development opportunities to kick-start the program’s implementation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which leads the program’s evaluation, also ensure progress continues.

Just in time for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, the Healthy Schools Program is excited to unveil a series of three on-demand trainings that help you see what’s new, get started with the PYFP, and learn how to integrate it into your existing physical education curriculum.

Just log into the Training Center to access the 3-part training series:

• Module 1: Getting Started with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program
• Module 2: PYFP and the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community Approach to Health
• Module 3: Physical Education and Fitness Assessment: A Primer for Administrators and Teachers

Don’t take my word for it. After completing the first course, Andrew Martin said: “This was a great course that taught me so much about my area of physical education that I was unaware of! Thank you for this learning opportunity!”

See what users like Andrew are raving about. Log into the Training Center using your Healthy Schools Program website credentials and get started today.

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Lisa Perry is a National Physical Education, Physical Activity and Health Education Advisor at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.