Dear Parent/Guardian:
Students in Grades 5 and 7 in the Escondido Union School District will be administered the required California Physical Fitness Test, also called the PFT, starting on April 1, 2025 and ending on May 9. For this testing period, the California Department of Education (CDE) has regulations that will allow schools to administer the following five components of the PFT:
Aerobic Capacity
Abdominal Strength and Endurance
Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
Upper Body Strength and Endurance
Flexibility
About the PFT
California has chosen the FITNESSGRAM® as its annual PFT for students in grades five, seven, and nine. Results from the PFT provide students and their families a measurement they can use along with other information to monitor their overall fitness. The results also can be used by schools to evaluate their physical education program.
Helping Your Child Prepare
You play an important role in your child’s education and can help your child get ready for the test. Here are ways you can help:
Talk about the PFT with your child. Make sure your child is not anxious and is ready to do their very best.
Tell your child that you and their teacher are both there to help, every step of the way, and want them to do their best to finish what they can.
Help make sure your child engages in 60 minutes of activity every day.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before testing.
For More Information
To learn more about the PFT, go to the CDE Parent Guides to Understanding web page (scroll down to the section titled, “Other Important Assessments”)
If you have any questions about your child’s participation in the PFT, the FITNESSGRAM®, or the test results, please contact your child’s teacher or principal.
Sincerely,
Luis Ibarra, Ed.D.
Superintendent