When Michelle Obama created the Let’s Move Program, I was hoping the program was actually going to Push Kids to Move but it was about making the School Lunch Program have smaller portion sizes. As a result, many of the full-price meal student school lunch food buyers opted to bring their lunches to school. Many school districts were forced to dip into their General Funds to help pay for the Free & Reduced School Lunch Meals since the Full Price Meals actually subsidize the Free & Reduced Priced Meals.

President Trump has restored the Presidential Fitness Test

President Trump has restored the Presidential Fitness Test, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., working with the Department of Education, is bringing it back to schools. The goal is to help children build strength, improve endurance, and develop healthy habits through clear fitness goals and recognition for their accomplishments.

For many parents and grandparents, the Presidential Fitness Test brings back memories of running laps, doing sit-ups, and trying to earn that special award. The updated program gives today’s children choices in three fitness categories:

🏃 Cardiovascular endurance: A one-mile run or a 20-meter beep test.

💪 Upper-body strength: Right-angle push-ups or pull-ups.

⭐ Core strength: Curl-ups or holding a plank.

Students work toward benchmarks based on age and the boys’ or girls’ standards. Meeting the required target in one exercise from each category qualifies them for the corresponding award.

Achievement—and participation—get recognition.

The program offers a Presidential Physical Fitness Award for the higher benchmarks, a National Award for a second achievement level, and a Certificate of Participation for students who complete the test. Its stated goals include encouraging children to set goals, track progress, and celebrate improvement.

HHS is also helping schools turn the program into action.

On October 1, 2026, HHS announced a $10 million Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge. It includes $7 million in cash prizes for organizations demonstrating effective, innovative approaches to the test, plus $3 million in equipment and recognition vouchers.

Eligible schools, school districts, education agencies, and youth-serving organizations can participate. Entries are due February 5, 2027, with winners expected in spring 2027.

What can families do?

Ask your child’s school whether it is participating and how students will prepare. The federal executive order restores the program, but does not itself require every public school to administer it. Local implementation matters.

As a wellness expert, my recommendation is to make active family activities a priority: take family walks, play outside, ride bikes, dance, or practice age-appropriate exercises together. Encourage children to improve their own performance, and work with teachers on suitable activities and accommodations when needed.

A fitness test can give children a goal. Daily opportunities to move, practice, and feel successful can help them keep going.

Be Wise and Exercise!

Learn more: WhiteHouse.gov/fitness and Fitness.gov.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is for education only and is not medical advice. Always talk with your healthcare provider about what is best for your health.

Note: I used ChatGPT for the graphics and pulling this blog together for this topic, but I also check the information carefully to ensure the health information is correct. In order to get the right answers & the development of these health blogs when using ChatGPT effectively, you must know how to pose the correct questions.  

This content was generated with assistance from ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI