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Virginia Governor Unveils Mandatory Physical Fitness Test for High-School Graduates

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Sunday, November 16th 2025 at 12:31 GMT by USA Today

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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Unveils “Presidential Physical‑Fitness Test” for High‑School Graduates

On November 7 , 2025, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order that will change the way students graduate from high school for the first time in the state’s history. The order requires every 12th‑grade student in Virginia to pass a new “Presidential Physical‑Fitness Test” (PPFT) before they can receive a diploma. The move, announced at a press conference in Richmond, marks a bold step toward making physical fitness a core part of the state’s educational mission.

What the PPFT Looks Like

The PPFT is modeled after the physical‑fitness standards used by the U.S. armed forces, and is designed to gauge a student’s cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and overall health. The test consists of four components:

Students who meet the above standards in a single testing window are automatically deemed to have passed. The order gives school districts 18 months to develop a testing protocol, train staff, and provide adequate facilities. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will release detailed testing guidelines on a dedicated portal on the state website (link provided in the original article).

Legal Framework and Inclusion Safeguards

Under the executive order, the PPFT will be administered under existing Virginia statutes that allow schools to incorporate “well‑being” measures into graduation requirements. To protect students with disabilities, the order explicitly references the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Schools must provide individualized adaptations, such as:

• Alternative distance run with a walker or stroller for mobility‑impairment students
• Modified repetitions for students with muscle‑or‑joint limitations
• Additional testing time for students with chronic illnesses

The VDOE will offer a compliance checklist and a waiver application process for districts that need additional support to meet ADA standards. The order stresses that any waiver must be approved in writing by the VDOE Director of Special Education before the student’s graduation.

Funding and Implementation

The governor’s order acknowledges that many Virginia school districts lack the budget or the physical resources to carry out a statewide fitness test. Accordingly, the state will allocate $4.5 million in the next fiscal year to the “Physical‑Education Enhancement Fund.” This money will:

1. Hire certified fitness trainers and instructional aides in 42 of the state’s largest school districts (those with over 1,200 students) that have historically under‑funded PE.
2. Upgrade gymnasiums, purchase treadmills and weights, and create outdoor running tracks where needed.
3. Train existing PE teachers through a 40‑hour online curriculum developed in partnership with the Virginia Association of Physical Education Teachers (VAPET).

The order also authorizes the VDOE to issue grants of up to $25,000 to districts that demonstrate innovative low‑cost testing solutions, such as community‑partnered “after‑school boot camps.” Districts are required to report quarterly on their progress, and the VDOE will release a public dashboard summarizing pass rates and testing compliance.

Reactions from Stakeholders

Supporters
Education Commissioner Sarah K. Larkin applauded the order, saying, “We’ve long said that healthy kids learn better. The PPFT is a tangible step toward ensuring that every Virginia youth leaves school fit for the future.” VAPET’s president, Jonathan Marsh, added, “The standards are reasonable, and the funding will help us deliver a high‑quality program statewide.”

Critics
Opposition came from the Virginia Parents’ Association, whose co‑founder, Lisa Barton, wrote a letter to the governor: “This policy will create a barrier for students who already struggle academically. It could also disproportionately affect low‑income districts that cannot afford to hire new staff.” Additionally, the Virginia Disability Rights Coalition warned that “the order risks turning a health requirement into a punitive measure for students with chronic conditions unless ADA safeguards are rigorously enforced.”

Mixed Views
Some educators see a hybrid approach as the best path forward. Dr. Marcus Ellison, a middle‑school science teacher in Chesapeake, said, “I’m supportive of the goal of improving health, but the current testing format might be too rigid. We need a flexible model that still encourages fitness without stigmatizing students.”

Wider Context and Future Implications

The PPFT sits within a broader national conversation about the role of physical education in schools. In the past decade, several states—Colorado, Florida, and North Carolina—have introduced “fitness‑based” graduation requirements. The Virginia initiative is the most comprehensive yet, with a defined federal‑style test and a public‑funding package.

The executive order also dovetails with Governor Youngkin’s “State of Wellness” agenda, which launched earlier this year with a pledge to add 12,000 new outdoor recreation trails and to expand mental‑health services in schools. The governor stated, “The PPFT is part of a holistic vision to prepare our kids for the rigors of college, the workforce, and civic life.”

Looking ahead, the VDOE plans to evaluate the PPFT’s impact after the 2026‑2027 school year. Metrics will include pass rates, student health indicators, and dropout rates. The data will inform whether the policy should be revised or expanded—for example, to include middle‑school students or to incorporate nutrition and mental‑health screenings.

Where to Find More

• Virginia Department of Education – PPFT Guidelines: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/ppft
• Virginia Association of Physical Education Teachers: https://www.vapet.org
• Disability Rights Coalition Statement: https://www.virginiadrc.org/ppft
• Governor’s Office Press Release: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/pressrelease/2025/11/07

The executive order marks a significant shift in Virginia’s educational landscape. Whether the PPFT will become a national model or a point of contention remains to be seen, but it certainly underscores the state’s commitment to embedding physical fitness into the core of secondary education.