Essential information about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is provided for school personnel. The policy statements of several national organizations regarding school attendance of children and teachers who have tested positive for AIDS virus are included. Relevant hotlines, organizations, audiovisual materials, and publications are…

Explored the relationship between severity of sanction imposed for tobacco policy violation and dropout rates in South Carolina public high schools. Surveys of school principals assessed policies and sanctions. Data were tested for an association between event dropout rate and sanction severity. Results suggest that severe sanctions imposed for…

Background: US schools employ an estimated 6.7 million workers and are thus an ideal setting for employee wellness programs. This article describes the characteristics of school employee wellness programs in the United States, including state-, district-, and school-level policies and programs. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and…

Background: Family and community involvement in schools is linked strongly to improvements in the academic achievement of students, better school attendance, and improved school programs and quality. Method: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts the School Health Policies and Programs Study every 6 years. In 2006,…

The most common reason for the failure of schools to offer sex education is fear of negative community reaction. Ways to break down opposition by community or church groups to the implementation of sex education programs are discussed. (CJ)

Currently existing guidelines on the administration and storage of prescribed medication by local school districts are outlined. (JD)

Conducted a data quality substudy in conjunction with the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000 to assess the quality of study questionnaires. Validity of state and district level questionnaires was examined via telephone interviews with original respondents. A test-retest reliability of the school and classroom level…

Background: This study examined physical activity opportunities and barriers at 36 geographically diverse middle schools participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Methods: Principals, physical education and health education department heads, and program leaders were interviewed to assess policies and instructional practices that…

An epidemiological update on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome as it relates to the school-age population emphasizes modes of transmission and recommends ways for handling infected students. (JD)

Presents Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines that summarize school-based strategies most likely to be effective in preventing tobacco use among youth. The guidelines recommend that all schools develop and enforce a policy, provide instruction on tobacco use consequences, provide prevention education, train teachers, involve families,…

Poor dietary habits, rising rates of overweight students, and lack of oversight of vending contracts prompted the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to develop and implement 2 of the most comprehensive nutrition policies in the country. The Healthy Beverage Resolution and Obesity Prevention Motion limit the types of and access to…

This study analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000 to examine the relationship between school health councils and selected school health policies and programs. SHPPS 2000 collected data from faculty and staff in a nationally representative sample of schools. About two-thirds (65.7%) of US schools have school…