Reflections on the Texas Youth Evaluation Project and implications for the future.
The passage of Senate Bill 530 in June 2007 increased visibility about the importance of health-related fitness in Texas. As a result of the mandate, more than 2.6 million 3rd- through 12th-grade students from all Texas counties were evaluated between January 1, 2008, and June 1, 2008, using a standardized test of health-related physical fitness (FITNESSGRAM). This number represented 84.8% of all public school districts in Texas. In the subsequent 2 years, 2.8 and 2.9 million children were tested, which represents more than 90% of all public school districts in Texas. This summary provides reflections on the test results and implications for future school-based fitness initiatives, both in Texas and in other states.
The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX, USA. khcooper@cooper-clinic.com
Kenneth H
KH
Cooper
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012574:Schools; D013781:Texas