Requiring the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses in elementary, middle, and high schools and providing exceptions to the test; and to provide an effective date.
HB 1621 amends North Dakota’s compulsory school curriculum statutes to require participation in the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses for elementary, middle, and high school students, while allowing the superintendent of public instruction to set criteria for exceptions consistent with federal guidance. The bill also updates the state’s required instructional content to include physical education with the fitness test, and it preserves existing requirements for health, computer science, and other core subjects.
For high schools, the bill revises the physical education graduation requirement so that students must take one-half unit each year, with the presidential physical fitness test included, and it adds a requirement that once every four years the physical education unit be a concept-based fitness class focused on assessing, improving, and maintaining personal fitness. It also retains and restates other graduation requirements such as English, math, science, social studies, fine arts, foreign or Native American language, career and technical education, and computer science or cybersecurity. The bill continues to allow course delivery through classroom, distance learning, and postsecondary enrollment options, and it maintains existing rules on fees, transportation, and exemptions for alternative schools and the youth correctional center.
The bill changes sections 15.1-21-01 and 15.1-21-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, making the presidential physical fitness test part of required physical education instruction and graduation-related course offerings. It affects public and nonpublic elementary, middle, and high schools by adding a statewide fitness-testing mandate, while giving the superintendent authority to define exceptions and criteria. The bill does not alter the broader structure of graduation requirements, but it reinforces the state’s authority over curriculum standards, physical education content, and school compliance obligations. Its effective date is August 1, 2027.
The recorded votes suggest broad bipartisan support for the bill. It passed the House 90-2 and the Senate 43-3, indicating that most legislators viewed the measure favorably or at least did not oppose it strongly. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to suggest significant public controversy in the available materials.
The main potential point of contention is the requirement that students participate in the presidential physical fitness test, which could raise concerns about student ability, disability accommodations, and whether a standardized fitness test is appropriate for all students. The bill addresses this by authorizing the superintendent of public instruction to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test in alignment with federal guidance. Another possible issue is the added compliance burden on schools, but the strong vote margins suggest any objections were limited. No specific opposing arguments are included in the provided record.