This database is a comprehensive source of information about individual states’ policies on over 40 different topics relating to key areas of school health. First developed in 1998, the database tracks state-level school health policy changes and provides access to state school health policies in one convenient location. Individuals regularly use the database to learn about and assess their state’s school health policies and to find exemplary policies from other states. NASBE continually updates the database with new and revised laws and policies. To access the database, click here.
The database is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Adolescent and School Health.
NASBE hosts a webinar series highlighting state successes in developing and implementing school health policies. Archived podcasts, presentations, and other materials are available online for the following webinars:
- School Wellness Policy Leadership: Healthy Eating (December 2009)
Focus: West Virginia’s statewide school nutrition policy
- School Wellness Policy Leadership: Physical Activity (April 2010)
Focus: Hawaii’s and Tennessee’s physical activity/physical education policies.
- School Wellness Policy Leadership: Marketing in Schools (December 2010)
Focus: Maine’s school food marketing policy
Obesity Prevention Policies for Middle and High Schools: Are We Doing Enough? (2010)
This issue brief by the National Association of State Boards of Education examines state- and district-level policies in elementary, middle and high schools that support childhood obesity prevention, the school food environment and physical education. The report found that while adolescents have higher rates of obesity, are less active and consume more junk food and sugary beverages than younger children, both state- and district-level policies addressing the school food and physical activity environment are more stringent at the elementary than the middle and high school levels.
Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide (2009)
Schools have many powerful tools at their disposal to serve as one of the primary agents to address the obesity crisis. This policy guide is based on Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide, and offers the latest policy updates and recommendations about how to promote physical education and activity and healthy eating policies in schools. To accomplish this goal, the guide refocuses the research and policy recommendations in these chapters to provide specific models for schools to address the childhood obesity epidemic. It is important to note, however, schools cannot and should not be expected to conquer this crisis alone. Instead, schools have a responsibility to work with parents, state and local government, and communities to take the necessary steps to truly address the epidemic.
Meeting the Challenge of Childhood Obesity (The Standard, 2008)
This issue of The Standard examines how education policymakers can best address childhood obesity in school settings. This edition includes new information and resources for state and district leaders to help them incorporate the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans throughout the school day, improve the school food environment and apply evidence-based recommendations for the implementation of local wellness policies. Articles in the journal also draw lessons from key national nutrition standards for foods sold outside of school meals and consider the unique needs of children in at-risk communities, among many other critical issues.
Policy Update: Science-based Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools (2008)
This Policy Update provides an overview of the new IOM Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools, policy issues to consider, and highlights West Virginia’s new nutrition policy that is modeled off of the IOM Standards.
Issue Brief: State Strategies to Support Local Wellness Policies (2007)
This report finds that at least 48 states have taken an active role in providing guidance and leadership to districts and schools on local wellness policies. Several states have adopted promising strategies that strengthen the impact of local school wellness policies. Most notably, Arkansas, Rhode Island, and South Carolina recognized that life-long health and wellness are so integral to the development and achievement of students that they have made wellness policies a component of their general education accountability system. Thus, these three states have taken a major step in ensuring that student health and wellness are as important to schools as academic excellence. State Strategies to Support Local Wellness Policies covers these and other state actions and initiatives related to wellness policies.
Policy Brief: Arkansas’ School BMI Assessment (2007)
This Policy Brief describes Arkansas’ school BMI assessment initiative, initial results, and issues to consider in school BMI assessment.
Someone at School Has AIDS (2001)
This guide offers all the information and recommendations schools need for educational health sports and confidentiality policies related to HIV. This guide has endorsements from the American Medical Association American Academy of Pediatrics and many other health and education organizations.
Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn (2000)
These guides are designed to help educators establish effective policies that promote high academic achievement and lifelong healthy habits. They include guidance on general school health policies and program development as well as specific information on school health topics including physical education program design, safety requirements, food service programs and smoking cessation services.
Impact of Adolescent Pregnancy & Parenthood on Educational Achievement (2000)
This publication reviews the consequences of teenage pregnancy promising research-based prevention strategies and specific action steps state and local boards of education can take to bolster school health programs. Emphasizing academic skills and a youth’s healthy physical emotional and social development the report gives policy makers a comprehensive strategy to simultaneously help reduce adolescent parenthood and promote student achievement.
How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools (2003)
How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools is a primer for health professionals and others who seek to serve children and youth in school settings. This guide includes a summary of the benefits for students when health professionals and educators work together; an overview of the core mission of education; a background chapter on how education works at the school, district, state, and national levels; as well as many practical tips for how to work effectively with educators, school administrators, and policymakers.
Building Business Support for School Health Programs (1999)
This step-by-step action guide was developed to help state and local coalitions communicate effectively with the public about how coordinated school health programs (CSHPs) help improve students’ health and academic performance. It particularly focuses on building support for CSHPs among the business community and provides a concrete hands-on step-by-step approach to accomplishing tasks such as assembling communications teams and strategies working with business leaders reaching out to the media and handling difficult or controversial topics. An outstanding feature of the Action Guide is a set of template materials and communications tools contained in the appendices to help users in their CSHP outreach efforts.
For additional NASBE publications, visit the NASBE Marketplace.