Health Education component promotes:
Access to valid health information and health promotion products and services;
The practice of health enhancing behaviors and reduction of health risks;
The ability to analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health;
The use of interpersonal communication skills to enhance health;
The use of goal setting and decision making skills; and
Advocacy for personal, family, and community health.
Goal: Maintain a culture in my school strongly that supports and reinforces the health literacy knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills students learn through a high-quality curriculum. Today, health status is determined more by one’s own behaviors than by advances in medical technology, availability of health services, or other factors; and research demonstrates education in schools can make a difference in the health-related behaviors of students.
The Health Education program promotes behaviors that contribute to a healthful lifestyle and improved quality of life for all students. The Health Education curriculum, when fully integrated, supports and reinforces the goals and objectives of its two major components health and physical education. When the concepts of these two areas are integrated, learning is enhanced to its maximum.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Sequential, Prek - 12, coordinated teaching of health, physical education, and family and consumer sciences
Assessment of risks, consideration of consequences, and making healthy decisions
Communication of health information
Acknowledgment of similarities and differences to create a safe and supportive environment
Collaboration among components to strengthen the coordinated school health program
Action Steps for Implementing Comprehensive School Health Education
Actions for Schools and Districts
To Strengthen Curriculum Planning and Development
Increase community awareness of and support for comprehensive school health education
Assess student health needs, interests, strengths, and cultures during curriculum planning
Develop a plan for funding, selecting or developing, implementing, and assessing a comprehensive health education curriculum through a collaborative
Review and revise school policies and enforcement strategies on a regular basis
To Facilitate Curriculum Implementation
Provide adequate support for implementation
Establish a system to ensure materials distribution, professional development, and student assessment
Provide at least 50 hours of health education at every grade level
Use information technologies in the health education curriculum
Encourage team building and collaborative curriculum planning between health education teachers and their colleagues
Implement a variety of strategies that foster family involvement
To Ensure that Teachers Are Adequately Prepared
Select teachers who are academically prepared and qualified and can use active teaching and authentic assessment strategies
Provide ongoing professional development opportunities and incentives for teachers, administrators, board members, and other staff responsible for implementation
Provide follow-up booster sessions and ongoing technical assistance
To Assess and Evaluate Health Education
Include process evaluation procedures in the curriculum implementation plan
Measure student knowledge and skills at grades 4, 8, and 11
Actions for State and National Organizations and Colleges and Universities
Support and implement policies and plans that include health education as a core academic subject, mandate adequate instructional time, and are consistent with the
National Health Education Standards
Provide or advocate for adequate financial support for implementation
Require certification in health education for those teaching health education at the secondary level and some coursework in health for those teaching at the elementary school level
Provide preservice and in-service professional preparation, booster sessions, and technical assistance to prepare school administrators, teachers, and other staff to support and teach health education
Develop guidelines and materials to assist schools with implementation and assessment
Support the use of information technologies to deliver health instruction
Conduct or support continued research in health education
Devote adequate resources, including personnel, to provide technical assistance and material support to schools implementing comprehensive school health education
Establish, maintain, and utilize communication systems for ensuring that schools have access to current information, technical support, and training opportunities
Health Education component promotes:
Access to valid health information and health promotion products and services;
The practice of health enhancing behaviors and reduction of health risks;
The ability to analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health;
The use of interpersonal communication skills to enhance health;
The use of goal setting and decision making skills; and
Advocacy for personal, family, and community health.
Goal: Maintain a culture in my school strongly that supports and reinforces the health literacy knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills students learn through a high-quality curriculum. Today, health status is determined more by one’s own behaviors than by advances in medical technology, availability of health services, or other factors; and research demonstrates education in schools can make a difference in the health-related behaviors of students.
The Health Education program promotes behaviors that contribute to a healthful lifestyle and improved quality of life for all students. The Health Education curriculum, when fully integrated, supports and reinforces the goals and objectives of its two major components health and physical education. When the concepts of these two areas are integrated, learning is enhanced to its maximum.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Sequential, Prek - 12, coordinated teaching of health, physical education, and family and consumer sciences
Assessment of risks, consideration of consequences, and making healthy decisions
Communication of health information
Acknowledgment of similarities and differences to create a safe and supportive environment
Collaboration among components to strengthen the coordinated school health program
Action Steps for Implementing Comprehensive School Health Education
Actions for Schools and Districts
To Strengthen Curriculum Planning and Development
Increase community awareness of and support for comprehensive school health education
Assess student health needs, interests, strengths, and cultures during curriculum planning
Develop a plan for funding, selecting or developing, implementing, and assessing a comprehensive health education curriculum through a collaborative
Review and revise school policies and enforcement strategies on a regular basis
To Facilitate Curriculum Implementation
Provide adequate support for implementation
Establish a system to ensure materials distribution, professional development, and student assessment
Provide at least 50 hours of health education at every grade level
Use information technologies in the health education curriculum
Encourage team building and collaborative curriculum planning between health education teachers and their colleagues
Implement a variety of strategies that foster family involvement
To Ensure that Teachers Are Adequately Prepared
Select teachers who are academically prepared and qualified and can use active teaching and authentic assessment strategies
Provide ongoing professional development opportunities and incentives for teachers, administrators, board members, and other staff responsible for implementation
Provide follow-up booster sessions and ongoing technical assistance
To Assess and Evaluate Health Education
Include process evaluation procedures in the curriculum implementation plan
Measure student knowledge and skills at grades 4, 8, and 11
Actions for State and National Organizations and Colleges and Universities
Support and implement policies and plans that include health education as a core academic subject, mandate adequate instructional time, and are consistent with the
National Health Education Standards
Provide or advocate for adequate financial support for implementation
Require certification in health education for those teaching health education at the secondary level and some coursework in health for those teaching at the elementary school level
Provide preservice and in-service professional preparation, booster sessions, and technical assistance to prepare school administrators, teachers, and other staff to support and teach health education
Develop guidelines and materials to assist schools with implementation and assessment
Support the use of information technologies to deliver health instruction
Conduct or support continued research in health education
Devote adequate resources, including personnel, to provide technical assistance and material support to schools implementing comprehensive school health education
Establish, maintain, and utilize communication systems for ensuring that schools have access to current information, technical support, and training opportunities