A CDC Review of School Laws and Policies Concerning Child and Adolescent Health

• Published in: The Journal of school health 2008-02, Vol.78 (2), p.69-128
• Main Author: [Unknown]
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); Child; Child Health; Child Welfare - legislation & jurisprudence; Children; Community Involvement; Community Participation; Educational Environment; Family; Family Involvement; Federal Legislation; Government Regulation; Health; Health Education; Health Policy - legislation & jurisprudence; Health Programs; Health Promotion; Health Services; Humans; Legislation; Local Government; Mental Health; Nutrition; Physical Education; Physical Education and Training; Public Health; Public Policy; Safety; School Policy; Schools - legislation & jurisprudence; Social Services; Social Work; State Legislation; United States; Well Being
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00272_4.x

Well-designed and effectively implemented school health policies and programs can improve students' health-related behaviors and outcomes, as well as their educational outcomes. Health promotion programs in the school setting are guided and constrained by myriad federal, state, and local laws and policies. Knowledge and understanding of the legal and policy framework in which school health programs must operate are essential to efforts to maximize the impact of these programs on health and educational outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents "A CDC Review of School Laws and Policies Concerning Child and Adolescent Health." This report is the first of its kind to describe the breadth of health-related laws and policies under which schools operate. The report is framed around the eight interactive components of a coordinated school health program: (1) health education; (2) physical education; (3) health services; (4) nutrition services; (5) mental health and social services; (6) healthy and safe school environment; (7) health promotion for staff; and (8) family and community involvement. Although it provides an overview of the legal context under which school health programs operate, it is not an exhaustive examination of all federal, state, and local laws and policies related to these programs. This report should inspire education and public health officials, together, to learn more about the laws and policies that might already be in place, while giving them a better understanding of how they can use laws and policies to improve the health, safety, and academic performance of young people in schools.