Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Healthy School Environments

Implementing Coordinated School Environmental Health Guidelines

Related Information
  • Read the State School Environmental Health Guidelines.
  • Tools and Resources to Assist States with Environmental Health Programs for Schools
  • Frequent Questions about the State School Environmental Health Guidelines.
  • State School Environmental Health Statutes At-a-Glance

How States Can Implement a Coordinated School Health Strategy

Monitor and assess the effectiveness of school health policies and programs in promoting healthy behaviors and reducing risky ones (e.g., CDC's School Health Profiles survey).

Build an infrastructure within the lead agency that supports personnel and organizational involvement, authorization and funding, technical assistance and resources, and communication.

Build partnerships among state level government agencies and NGOs to coordinate efforts and maximize resources (e.g., establish a state school health coordinating council).

Establish policies to help schools implement and coordinate their school health efforts (e.g., provide model policies to local school districts and develop curriculum standards to guide instruction and content).

Establish a technical assistance and resource plan to support school districts in their Coordinated School Health efforts (e.g., establish criteria to help school districts develop, assess, and select health curricula; identify resources for developing school health policies and for assessing and planning school health programs; and identify national standards and guidelines for Coordinated School Health components and disseminate to school districts).

Communicate the roles and benefits of a Coordinated School Health strategy to key audiences.

Develop a professional development plan for school officials and others responsible for implementing a Coordinated School Health strategy and school health initiatives.

Establish a system for evaluation to improve state and local school health policies and programs (e.g., develop procedures for measuring program goals, objectives, and implementation plans to assess the development and implementation of health-related education policies).

For more information, visit CDC's Healthy Schools website.

How Schools and School Districts Can Implement a Coordinated School Health Strategy

Secure and maintain administrative support and commitment. School administrators can provide support by incorporating health in the school's or school district's vision and mission statements; appointing someone to oversee school health; allocating resources; and communicating the importance of wellness to students, school staff, and parents.

Establish a school health council or team. District school health councils include at least one representative from each Coordinated School Health component, and school administrators, parents, students, and community representatives involved in the health and well-being of students. School health teams include a site administrator, an identified school health leader, teachers and other staff representing the Coordinated School Health components, parents, students, and community representatives (when appropriate).

Identify a school health coordinator. The school health coordinator helps maintain active school health councils; facilitates health programming; organizes activities addressing the Coordinated School Health components; and facilitates actions to achieve a successful, coordinated school health system (e.g., policies, programs, activities, and resources).

Develop a plan. The plan should present a strategy for achieving health promotion goals and fit into a school's overall improvement plan to link health with learning outcomes.

Implement multiple strategies through multiple components. Each Coordinated School Health component employs a unique set of strategies, including classroom instruction, policies and procedures, environmental change, health, counseling and nutrition services, parent and community involvement, and social support. No single strategy or single component, however, will achieve all the desired health outcomes for all students. Implementing all components is necessary so every strategy can be used to address health behaviors and improve student learning.

Focus on students. The focus of a Coordinated School Health strategy should be on meeting the education and health needs of students, and providing opportunities for students to be meaningfully involved in the school and the community.

Address priority health-enhancing and health-risk behaviors. Schools can implement policies and programs to help students avoid or reduce health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among young people as well as among adults.

Provide professional development for staff. Professional development provides opportunities for school employees to identify areas for improvement, learn about and use proven practices, solve problems, develop skills, and reflect on and practice new strategies.

For more information, visit CDC's Healthy Schools website.

Healthy School Environments

  • Creating a Healthy School Environment
    • Assess and Improve Your School Environment
    • Combating Air Pollution at Schools
    • Using Chemicals and Cleaning Safely at School
    • Disasters, Emergencies and Schools
    • Managing Asthma at School
    • Reducing Waste at Schools
  • Environmental Health Threats at School
  • Resources for Educators
Contact Us about Healthy School Environments
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on December 31, 2024
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.

Environmental Protection Agency logo
www.epa.gov Feedback Survey

Welcome! Please share your feedback on how we can make www.epa.gov work better for you.

A red asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

Success

Thank you. Your feedback has been received.

Error

alert message

Required Questions - page 1 of 2
question_55203_answer_01
*

400 characters allowed
Would you like to take two more minutes to answer more questions to help us improve our services?
Yes, keep going →
← Back
Optional questions - page 2 of 2
How would you describe yourself?
400 characters allowed
400 characters allowed
400 characters allowed
U.S. flag

An official form of the United States government. Provided by Touchpoints
OMB Approval #1090-0008 · Expiration Date 11/30/2027