An overview of West Virginia’s 2026–27 Wellness Education Standards, physical education requirements, and fitness assessment updates.
Wellness Education Standards: A Summary for PE Teachers
WVBE Policy 2520.5, West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education
West Virginia’s updated Wellness Education Standards strengthen the connection between physical education, health education, physical activity, and lifelong wellness. Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, schools will implement revised standards designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to make healthy decisions and maintain active lifestyles.
These changes closely align with the Education Sector of ActiveWV 2030: WV Physical Activity Plan, which calls for high-quality, standards-based physical education, meaningful opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day, professional development for educators, and stronger school environments that support healthy behaviors. The plan also emphasizes accountability for student learning and encourages schools to use a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) approach that connects physical education with activity before, during, and after school.
For schools, the message is straightforward: the new Wellness Education Standards are not a separate initiative from broader school health and physical activity efforts. They are part of the same statewide direction, helping students develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and opportunities needed to be healthy and physically active for life.
1. What Is Wellness Education?
WVBE Policy 2520.5 (126CSR44E) sets West Virginia’s K–12 content standards for Wellness Education. According to the policy, the standards “promote wellness concepts that build the foundation for health literacy and an appreciation for lifelong physical activity,” and identify “what students should know, understand, and be able to do in practicing skills and behaviors that apply to building and maintaining healthy lifestyles.”
The revised policy took effect July 12, 2025, and the standards must be in place for the 2026–2027 school year. Its goal is to “promote self-responsibility, motivation, and excellence in learning as well as a lifelong commitment to wellness.”
How the standards are organized
Domains: Wellness Education has two domains, Health Education and Physical Education.
Health Education provides “the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy lifestyles,” often called health literacy.
Physical Education provides “planned, sequential, K-12 standards-based instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence.”
Numbering: Grades K–8 use one sequence per grade (e.g., WE.4.1–WE.4.33), with Health standards listed first and PE standards after. High school has two separate sets: HE.1–HE.43 (Health) and PE.1–PE.22 (Physical Education).
2. Clusters by Grade Band
Grade Band | Health Education Clusters | Physical Education Clusters |
|---|---|---|
K–5 | Wellness Promotion and Disease Prevention; Wellness Information and Services; Wellness Behaviors | Development of Movement Forms/Motor Skills; Physical Fitness; Responsible, Personal, and Social Behaviors
|
6–8 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Culture, Media, and Technology; Health Information and Services; Communication; Decision Making; Goal Setting; Health Behaviors; Advocacy
| Development of Motor Skills/Movement Forms; Physical Activity; Physical Fitness; Responsible Personal and Social Behavior
|
High School | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Culture, Media, and Technology; Health Information and Services; Communication; Decision Making; Goal Setting; Health Behaviors; Advocacy
| Development of Movement Forms/Motor Skills, Problem-Solving and Strategies; Physical Activity; Physical Fitness; Responsible Personal and Social Behavior
|
3. West Virginia Code and Policy Requirements
Physical Education and Fitness Assessment
Grades | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
K–5 | At least 30 minutes of PE, including physical exercise and age-appropriate activities, at least 3 days per week | W. Va. Code §18-2-7a |
6–8 | PE for the equivalent of one full period each school day for one semester | W. Va. Code §18-2-7a |
K–8 | Schools without enough certified PE teachers or facilities may develop alternate programs, which must be submitted to the WVDE for approval | W. Va. Code §18-2-7a |
4–8 and HS | FitnessGram® administered to all students in grades 4–8 and the required high school course | W. Va. Code §18-2-7a |
K–12 | At least 50% of PE class time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) | WVBE Policy 2510 |
Health Education
Grades | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
6, 8, and HS | Standardized health education assessment (HEAP) to measure student health knowledge and program effectiveness | W. Va. Code §18-2-9 |
5–12 | Self-harm and eating disorder signs, prevention, and treatment (at least once per school year) | W. Va. Code §18-2-40 |
5–12 | Age-appropriate body safety information (at least once per year; four times preferred) | W. Va. Code §18-2-40 |
6–12 | HIV/AIDS and STD/STI prevention; parents may review materials and exempt their child in writing | W. Va. Code §18-2-9 |
6–12 | At least 60 minutes of instruction on the dangers of opioid use and safer alternatives to treat pain | W. Va. Code §18-2-9 |
6–12 | Annual fentanyl and opioid education, including use of opioid reversal agents (Laken’s Law) | W. Va. Code §18-34-1 |
Before graduation | At least 30 minutes of CPR instruction, including psychomotor skills | W. Va. Code §18-2-9 |
4. Physical Education: Key Standards by Grade Band
Grade Band | Selected Standards from the Policy |
|---|---|
K–2 | Motor skills: locomotor movements, pathways, levels, balance, rhythm, and kicking, throwing, catching, and striking (WE.K.17–27, WE.1.16–23, WE.2.19–24)
Fitness: recognize body responses to activity, rest and exercise, large muscle groups, health-related fitness components (WE.K.28–30, WE.1.24–26, WE.2.25–27)
Behavior: cooperate with others, follow rules, find enjoyable activities outside school |
3–5 | Motor skills: throwing, catching, dribbling, striking with implements, jump rope, dance sequences (WE.3.17–24, WE.4.16–22, WE.5.21–27)
Fitness: proper form for curl-up, sit-up, plank, and push-up; flexibility; pacing; heart rate; F.I.T.T.; warm-up and cool-down; using fitness results (WE.3.25–32, WE.4.23–29, WE.5.28–39)
Behavior: fair play, feedback, including those with different abilities, activities from other cultures (WE.5.40–44)
|
6–8 | Movement: individual, dual, team, and lifetime activities; dance; offensive and defensive strategy (WE.6.43–45, WE.7.39–42, WE.8.40–43)
Physical activity: activity beyond PE class, community and state opportunities, personal activity plan (WE.6.46–47, WE.7.43–44, WE.8.44–45)
Fitness: proper form, flexibility, pacing, using fitness results, progression and overload, personal fitness goals (WE.6.48–53, WE.7.45–51, WE.8.46–51)
Behavior: teamwork, conflict resolution, rules and safety, inclusive participation (WE.6.54–56, WE.7.52–54, WE.8.52–54) |
High School | Movement: activity-specific skills, individual, dual, and team sports, dance, strategy, problem solving (PE.1–5)
Physical activity: lifelong activity patterns, regional outdoor adventure activities, fitness and recreation resources (PE.6–11)
Fitness: proper form, flexibility, pacing, using fitness results, designing a personal fitness program (F.I.T.T., progressive overload, muscle recovery) (PE.12–17)
Behavior: minimizing risk, etiquette, fair play, peer influence, supporting others (PE.18–22)
|
5. Health Education: Key Topics by Grade Band
Grade Band | Selected Standards from the Policy |
|---|---|
K–2 | Hygiene, germs, dental care, and healthy foods
Safety: 911, household products, safety equipment, body safety and trusted adults
Feelings, emotional regulation, and refusal skills
|
3–5 | Body systems, food groups, food labels, and balanced meals
First aid, protective gear, medicine safety, and the harmful effects of tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs
Stress management, communication, media influence, personal health goals
Grade 5: signs and symptoms of self-harm and eating disorders, and who can help (WE.5.18–20)
|
6–8 | Nutrition, body systems, reproductive health, and STD/STI prevention
Media, family, and peer influence; valid health information
Communication, refusal skills, decision making, and goal setting
CPR, AED, first aid, opioid reversal agents, eating disorders and self-harm, and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results
|
High School | Dimensions of wellness, communicable and chronic disease, and risk factors such as a sedentary lifestyle (HE.1–7)
Media, technology (including fitness trackers), and community influences (HE.8–12)
Evaluating health information and misinformation; community resources (HE.13–15)
Decision making, boundaries, and personal health plans with SMART goals and F.I.T.T. (HE.19–28)
Nutrition and physical activity, stress, suicide prevention, first aid, hands-on CPR, and Naloxone (HE.29–36)
Advocacy, including fentanyl and opioid awareness and WV YRBS results (HE.37–43)
|
6. FitnessGram® in the Policy and the Fitness Assessment Crosswalk
Under W. Va. Code §18-2-7a and recent legislative mandates established by House Bill 4982, public school districts across West Virginia are executing updated Wellness Standards. To eliminate redundant testing and maximize instructional floor time, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has consolidated the FITNESSGRAM® assessment framework and the Presidential Physical Fitness Test (PFT) into a single, unified testing protocol.
Mandatory Scope: Required for all public-school students in Grades 4-8 and high school students enrolled in the required physical education course.
Unified Protocol: Merges FitnessGram® Healthy Fitness Zones (HFZ) with Presidential Physical Fitness Test (PFT) benchmarks into one test battery.
Assessment Domain | Approved Testing Options | Presidential Award Status |
|---|---|---|
Core Strength | Forearm Plank (Replaces Curl-Ups)
| Eligible (Plank Standard) |
Cardiorespiratory | 20m PACER or 1-Mile Run (15m PACER valid for WVEIS) | Eligible (20m PACER / Mile ONLY) |
Upper Body Strength | Right-Angle (90°) Push-Up | Eligible (Push-Up Standard) |
Flexibility & Mobility | Trunk Lift AND Sit & Reach (or Shoulder Stretch)
| Eligible (Standard HFZ)
|
Body Composition | Body Mass Index (BMI) or % Body Fat | Eligible (Standard HFZ) |
6–12 | Annual fentanyl and opioid education, including use of opioid reversal agents (Laken’s Law) | W. Va. Code §18-34-1 |
Before graduation | At least 30 minutes of CPR instruction, including psychomotor skills | W. Va. Code §18-2-9 |
The chart below is provided to help clarify assessment protocol as the two legacy tests are combined into one manageable, unified assessment. Many of the same protocols remain unchanged; the addition of the plank replaces the curl-up with an easier-to-administer measure of core strength.
Category | Test Item | Protocol / Resources |
|---|---|---|
Aerobic Capacity | Mile Run or 20 Meter PACER | Mile distance required (either lap count or distance for the PACER). 20 Meter PACER Learning Studio: FitnessGram PACER Test Remixes! (Hip Hop Public Health). Follow existing FitnessGram protocols. |
Core Strength | Forearm Plank | Measures core muscular endurance. Students assume a forearm plank position, keeping the body straight from head to heels, with elbows directly under shoulders. The test continues until the student can no longer maintain proper form (e.g., sagging hips, raised buttocks, bent knees). Time is recorded in seconds. |
Upper Body Strength | Right Angle Push-Up | FitnessGram Push-Up cadence is required. Follow existing FitnessGram protocols. |
Flexibility | Trunk Lift | Required for all students per existing FitnessGram protocols. |
Flexibility | Sit and Reach or Shoulder Stretch | Students must pass both sides (right and left) to be considered in the HFZ. These assessment items can be substituted for each other when reporting. Follow existing FitnessGram protocols. |
Body Composition | Body Mass Index (BMI) or Percent Body Fat | Per FitnessGram® Body Composition/BMI Assessment Guidance: PE teachers conducting BMI assessments should adhere to all safeguards to minimize potential harm and maximize benefit, establishing a safe and supportive environment for all students. Allow adequate time for screening to ensure appropriate assessment, confidentiality, and individual privacy. Notify parents properly so BMI may instead be calculated by the student’s health care provider if they choose; use of the school nurse is also an acceptable practice. Confidentiality is key when reporting this information for FitnessGram® administration and reporting purposes. |
Fitness test administration tips for teachers:
Teach before you test. Students practice plank and push-up form, flexibility, and pacing starting in Grade 3. Build these into lessons before the testing window.
Keep curl-ups in class. The standards still include curl-ups and sit-ups as exercises. The plank replaces the curl-up only for WVEIS reporting.
Share results with students. Every tested grade has a standard on using fitness results to plan improvement. Help students set goals using the F.I.T.T. principle.
Keep students moving on test days. Use stations or partner scoring to stay close to the 50% MVPA requirement.
End-of-Year (EOY) Reporting & Participation Requirements
EOY reporting is completed on (1) the number of students in and out of the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ), and (2) the number of National Physical Fitness Awards and Presidential Physical Fitness Awards earned. To earn either award, a student must meet the qualifying benchmark in all three categories: Aerobic Capacity, Core Strength, and Upper Body Strength.
Participation requirement: All students enrolled in Physical Education/Wellness, from 4th grade through the required high school course, are required to participate in the assessment.
Official West Virginia Fitness Assessment Performance Standards Charts (v6 Revised)
The linked website houses the WVDE tables that outline the age and gender-specific Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) and Presidential Fitness Test (PFT) benchmarks. HFZ standards represent health-related criterion thresholds, while PFT standards represent percentile award targets.
7. Full Standards
The complete Wellness Education standards for every grade are available from the West Virginia Department of Education: WVDE Content Standards and Policies.
Source: West Virginia Board of Education. (2025). West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education (Policy 2520.5, 126CSR44E).