California may pause student fitness tests due to bullying

CUNEYT DIL Associated Press SACRAMENTO (AP) — The governor of California wants to pause physical education tests for students over concerns with bullying and discrimination. During a three-year suspension, the state would study whether the current test for children in fifth, seventh, and ninth grades can be modified or a new assessment should be drawn up. The proposal, first reported by Politico, was tucked inside Gov. Gavin Newsom's education budget bill for next year. H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the Department of Finance, said the state has received complaints that the current examination's measurement of body mass index is discriminatory to non-binary students. A measurement calculated from weight and height, BMI screenings require students to select "male" or "female," he said.