OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma students could soon be lacing up their sneakers to take part in the Presidential Fitness Test under a bill signed into law by Gov. Stitt.
“There’s a statistic that about 70% of Oklahoma’s graduating seniors right now could not pass a military PT test to enter into military service,” Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said. “That becomes a national security issue obviously at the federal level, but at the state level, it also becomes a health and a lifestyle issue for the state of Oklahoma and one that we are paying the price for.”
Senate Bill 1437 directs the Oklahoma State Department of Education to establish guidelines to implement the Presidential Fitness Test based on recommendations from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Pugh said his bill allows for flexibility in how schools can implement the test.
“Part of the state department’s role will be to work with school districts to set up the right implementation of this,” Pugh told FOX 25. “Now some schools may actually even get dollars for equipment, maybe for some upgrades and some infrastructure to be able to administer this exam. Now, it’s important to note this exam doesn’t count as a graded exam. It’s not part of your GPA or anything like that. So, a lot of schools might just be able to incorporate this into PE or to additional recess time.”
Schools would begin administering the test next school year.
“We spend a lot of money on education, but the second most thing we spend money on the state of Oklahoma is our health care and human services. And so, changing lifestyles and changing behaviors as early as possible and young people, getting them excited about the benefits of exercise and making it fun hopefully builds the habit patterns that last a lifetime,” Pugh said.
Under this legislation parents could opt out of their child taking the test.
The bill says exemption guidelines should be included for students with disabilities, medical conditions or other factors that would impact their ability to complete the test.
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The measure goes into effect Nov. 1.
