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SB 1979

Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires each LEA and public charter school to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to students to assess their strength, endurance, and flexibility. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Bo Watson

Tennessee would require all public schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test annually, with accommodations, no grade impact, and annual reporting if the program is revoke

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 598
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Bill Summary · SB 1979

Summary of Bill SB 1979 / HB 1466 (Session 114, Tennessee)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill proposes to require every local education agency (LEA) and public charter school in Tennessee to administer the Presidential Fitness Test (PFT) to students.
  • It aligns state practice with a national framework established by an executive order issued by the President in 2025, reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to promote student health and fitness.

Key Provisions

  1. Mandatory Administration

    • Each LEA and public charter school must administer the Presidential Fitness Test to students to assess strength, endurance, and flexibility.
    • The test may be given during a physical education class or any other period of physical activity required by law.

  2. Guidance and Award Requirements

    • The Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) must notify LEAs and public charter schools in writing at least 30 days before the start of the school year in which the PFT will be administered.
    • The notification must specify the requirements for a student to earn the Presidential Fitness Award, and these requirements must mirror the criteria established by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (as set by the 2025 executive order).

  3. Accommodations and Safety

    • For students with a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan, schools must provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations on the PFT as recommended or required by the President’s Council.
    • A student with an IEP or Section 504 plan is not required to take the PFT if participation cannot be safely achieved, even with accommodations.

  4. Impact on Grades

    • A student’s performance on the PFT must not negatively affect their grade in any class, including a physical education class.

  5. Annual Administration

    • The PFT must be administered each school year for which the DOE provides the required written notice.

  6. Revocation Contingency and Reporting

    • If authorization for the PFT is revoked after the act’s effective date, the DOE must immediately notify LEAs and public charter schools.
    • Within 90 days of revocation, the DOE must report to the education committees (Senate and House) detailing, for each year the PFT was administered:
      • Enrollment numbers by grade level,
      • Participation numbers, disaggregated by grade and by students with IEP or 504 plans, including those who received accommodations,
      • The number of Presidential Fitness Awards issued.

Affected Entities

  • Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in Tennessee.
  • Students—general population and students with IEPs or Section 504 plans (who may receive accommodations or exemptions for safety).
  • Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) to provide guidance and oversight.

Timelines and Process

  • DOE must provide written notice to LEAs/charter schools at least 30 days before the school year in which the PFT will be administered.
  • Administration occurs annually, during a physical activity period.
  • If PFT authorization is revoked, DOE must issue immediate notice and submit the annual report within 90 days of revocation.
  • The act takes effect upon becoming law.

Fiscal Impact

  • The fiscal impact is described as not significant. The analysis assumes that administration will utilize existing staff, facilities, and equipment, with guidance provided by the DOE and alignment to the Council’s standards. No additional staffing, training, or technology costs are anticipated.

This summary focuses on the substantive changes the bill would enact, including who is responsible, how accommodations are handled, the zero-impact policy on grades, and the reporting requirements if authority to administer the test is revoked.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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