University Place board finds district making reasonable progress on health and fitness, flags three areas for growth

University Place School District presented its annual E‑4 monitoring report on student health and fitness, showing mixed results on FitnessGram measures and prompting the board to find the district is "making reasonable progress" while identifying three areas for desired growth.

Miley Carr, coordinator for transition to kindergarten through 12th grade, summarized the district’s fitness curriculum and assessment program and reviewed FitnessGram outcomes for 2024–25. Carr described FitnessGram components the district tracks — a VO2‑max proxy measured by mile/PACER, curl‑up (abdominal strength), trunk lift (back strength/flexibility), push‑up (upper‑body strength/endurance), and flexibility — and two OSPI paper‑and‑pencil assessments for health and fitness knowledge.

Carr reported that the share of students meeting the FitnessGram healthy‑fitness zone for VO2‑max fell to 67 percent in 2024–25 after a higher reading in 2023–24 (about 80 percent). Other results: curl‑up ~72 percent, trunk lift ~81 percent, push‑up ~60 percent, flexibility ~78 percent. Carr noted that some factors affect year‑to‑year comparability: secondary students sometimes self‑report weight (which affects the VO2 proxy), high‑school athletes may waive PE (removing fit students from the tested sample), and recent emphasis on push‑up form may depress measured push‑up counts even when form improved.

Direct quote: "We put in all of those measures, and the FitnessGram sticks back out to us whether or not a student is in the healthy fitness zone," Carr said. She warned the board the FitnessGram is a simplified measure and that the value is in promoting fitness rather than chasing a perfectly precise clinical measure.

Why it matters: the board uses monitoring reports to assess whether district practices meet policy expectations on student health and fitness. While many indicators remain strong, the decline in the VO2 proxy and a push‑up result that dipped after emphasis on correct form drew board attention.

Board action and direction

A motion to find the superintendent’s interpretation of E‑4 reasonable and to note that recent results show areas for desired growth in aerobic capacity (VO2), trunk lift and upper‑body strength passed by voice vote. The board directed staff to continue monitoring trends, refine training and assessment protocols where appropriate, and include these areas in future monitoring reports.

Assessment and measurement context

Carr explained program structure by grade band: TK–4 students receive PE twice weekly plus recess; grades 5–7 receive roughly 2.5 PE periods per week (including late‑start half periods); eighth graders receive daily PE; high‑school students take PE electives; second and fifth graders receive swim instruction and eighth graders receive one quarter of swim lessons. She emphasized measurement tradeoffs and the district’s focus on aligned curriculum and professional learning communities to review common assessments and make instructional adjustments.

Sources and limitations

The report used FitnessGram and OSPI assessments; staff emphasized that measurement differences, sample composition (PE waivers, participation rates) and coaching on correct test form influence year‑to‑year comparisons. Board members recommended continuing to examine both the results and how the district administers assessments, rather than treating single‑year changes as definitive.

Provenance: presentation and discussion, 00:48:48–01:00:00 (approx.).