Comprehensive School Health Education

{Students and Teacher Examining a Model of Human Anatomy}

Planned, sequential PK-12 comprehensive school health education addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of health and enables children and youth to become healthy and productive citizens and establish and practice health-enhancing behaviors over a lifetime. Curriculum is designed to motivate children and youth to maintain and improve their health, prevent disease, reduce health-related risk behaviors and develop and demonstrate health-related knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices. Certified, highly qualified and effective teachers provide comprehensive school health education. Comprehensive school health education is one component of a coordinated approach to school health. For information about coordinated school health programs, go to: Coordinated School Health  Healthy ConneCTions.

CSDE CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT PUBLICATIONS New: Position Statement on Coordinated School Health - PDF Position Statement on Creating a Healthy School Environment - PDF Position Statement on School-Family-Community Partnerships - PDF Position Statement on Student Support Services - PDF Healthy and Balanced Living Framework - PDF Comprehensive School Health Education and Physical Education Content Standards Guidelines for a Coordinated Approach to School Health Section 1: Comprehensive School Health Education State mandates and recommended number of instructional hours Connecticut School Health Survey – a survey monitoring student's health risks, behaviors and protective factors http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/hisr/pdf/cshs2007_fact_sheet.pdf School Health Profiles - information on school health related policies and programs  Connecticut Chronic Disease Prevention Fact Sheet, Profiles 2006 Connecticut Selected Topics Fact Sheet, Profiles 2006 Connecticut State Department of Education School Health Education Profile A Guide to Curriculum Development:  Purposes, Practices, Procedures.  (Connecticut State Department of Education, 2006) Health Education Assessment Project (HEAP) National and state initiative focused on increasing capacity of local school districts to improve the health literacy and address accountability in Comprehensive School Health Education. HEAP uses the assessment of student work to guide program development, implementation, and improvement efforts in promoting healthy outcomes for children and youth. The Health Education Assessment Project Cadre of Trainers provides professional development to local school districts. For more information on the cadre please contact Pat Miller, Program Facilitator at patfmiller@aol.com or Dr. Bonnie J. Edmondson at bonnie.edmondson@ct.gov. Pregnancy Prevention/HIV/STD Prevention Education funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Adolescent and School Health to support efforts of local school districts and communities to provide effective PK-12 prevention education in the context of comprehensive school health education. Provides research-based training and technical assistance to local school districts and communities including: using consistent curricula that are research and skills-based and that have been proven to reduce risk behaviors and promote health-enhancing behaviors among youth; and improving coordination between health education and other school and community resources. The Pregnancy Prevention/HIV/STD Cadre of Trainers provides professional development to local school districts and community-based organizations. For more information on the cadre please contact Jim Horton, Program Facilitator at srshorton@aol.com or Dr. Bonnie J. Edmondson at bonnie.edmondson@ct.gov.  HIV prevention materials funded by CDC must be approved by local program review panels. However, the materials may be considered controversial by some viewers. Healthy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Questioning Students Project (LGBQ) a collaboration among CSDE, DPH and the American Psychological Association to provide research-based resources to districts for creating and ensuring a safe and nurturing school climate for LGBQ youth, while reducing risk behaviors so they can develop into healthy productive adults. The Healthy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Questioning Students Project Cadre of Trainers provides professional development to school health and mental health professionals including school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers and school counselors in research-based approaches to addressing the health needs of LGBQ youth. For more information on the cadre please contact Dr. Bonnie J.  Edmondson at bonnie.edmondson@ct.gov. Commissioner’s Circular Letters Relating to Health and Wellness [PDF format] Statutory Requirements in Health and Safety; Alcohol, Nicotine, Tobacco and Drugs; and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome [08-09-C-12] Taking Action to Make Schools Free From Discrimination and Harm [01-02-C-14] Title IX (Sexual Harassment and Gender Equity) [00-01-C-25] Developing Safe Learning Environments [99-00-C-8] Raising Responsible Young People [98-99-C-31] Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education [98-99-C-28] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Teachers & Administrators     Professional Organizations American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) AAHPERD is an alliance of six national and six district associations supporting professionals through resources and programs in all areas of wellness and physical activity. This site provides links to the six national and six district associations, their programs and resources. American School Health Association (ASHA) Uniting the many professionals working in schools who are committed to safeguarding the health of school-aged children, ASHA’s mission is to protect and promote the health and well-being of children and youth through coordinated school health programs as a foundation for school success Connecticut Association of Administrators of Health and Physical Education (CAAHPE) For information, contact flanagan.dj@easthartford.org Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) The state affiliate to AAHPERD. The site provides information about services, events, and announcements along with links to a variety of other resources The Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation     Government and Non-Government Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of all people. Their site provides information, resources, publications, funding opportunities, data and statistics on health topics from A-Z including physical activity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome CDC National Prevention Information Network CDC-DASH Division of Adolescent and School Health - Healthy Youth A CDC division that seeks to prevent the most serious health risk behaviors among children, adolescents and young adults. Connecticut State Dental Association includes resources for teachers, students and families including an oral health education packet to teachers and families.  An Oral Health Curriculum [PDF] Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) A tool to help school districts, schools, and others conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of health education curricula based on the National Health Education Standards and CDC’s Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula. The HECAT results can help schools select or develop appropriate and effective health education curricula and improve the delivery of health education. The HECAT can be customized to meet local community needs and conform to the curriculum requirements of the state or school district. School Health Education Resources (SHER) User-friendly access to the myriad school health education offerings available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Included with the SHER materials are the related National Health Education Standards and CDC's Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula. Health Education Assessment Project Materials and Resources Healthy Lesbian Gay Bisexual Students Project State Department of Children and Families Safe Harbors Project Health, Mental Health and Safety Guidelines for Schools – Health and Safety Education Chapter A guide for administrators and policymakers from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and other public health organizations. This chapter provides recommendations and guidelines for maintaining a high quality health education program. Discovery Education’s Health Lesson Plans Library This popular site - formerly Kathy Schrok’s Health Education website - offers a variety of lesson plans and other teaching resources for health educators. KidsHealth in the Classroom (Nemours Foundation) This site offers free health curriculum materials for teachers of all grades and subject areas. Each teacher's guide includes discussion questions, activities, and reproducible handouts and quizzes - all aligned to national health education standards. Authentic Assessment Toolbox This toolbox is a how-to website on creating authentic tasks, rubrics and standards for measuring and improving student learning. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education Sex and HIV education programs for youth:  Their impact and important characteristics Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States ETR Associates Tool to Assess the Characteristics of Effective Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs, Healthy Teen Network     Professional Development Connecticut’s Common Core of Teaching Teacher Certification     Grants AAHPERD / AAHE site contains information about program and research grant opportunities     Health and Achievement Links Action for Healthy Kids Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Youth and Academics Promoting academic achievement is one of the four fundamental outcomes of modern school health programs. Scientific reviews have documented that school health programs can have positive impacts on educational outcomes, as well as on health risk behaviors and health outcomes How Are Student Health Risks & Resilience Related to the Academic Progress of Schools? Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (SSDHPER) Making the Connection: Health and Student Achievement The Whole Child: Healthy, Safe, Engaged, Supported, Challenged - Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Creating a Healthy School Using the Healthy School Report Card: An ASCD Action Tool helps school communities develop health promoting schools and homes that enable, motivate, support, and reinforce student and staff adoption and practice of healthy behaviors. Schools that use the action tool will bring community and parent stakeholders together to assess how effectively they address student and staff well-being and support student academic achievement and positive behavioral outcomes. School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide     Coordinated School Health Partnerships How Are Student Health Risks & Resilience Related to the Academic Progress of Schools? Making the Connection: Health and Student Achievement Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (SSDHPER) SSDHPER Position Papers Resolution for Comprehensive School Health Education That Addresses the Health and Safety of All Children Resolution for Quality Physical Education and Physical Activity The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools - Action for Healthy Kids Parents & Community American Heart Association Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Connecticut State Dental Association American Diabetes Association American Cancer Society Students Healthy Youth! Make a Difference at Your School! Key strategies to prevent obesity Dr. Bonnie J. Edmondson, Consultant Email: bonnie.edmondson@ct.gov Phone: (860) 807-2077 Major Responsibilities: - HIV/STD Prevention Education - Comprehensive School Health Education - Coordinated School Health     Dr. Jean Mee, Consultant Email: jean.mee@ct.gov Phone: 860-713-6783 Major Responsibilities: - PK-12 Physical Education - PK-12 School Health Education - Coordinated School Health

Content Last Modified on 9/21/2009 11:03:32 AM