Schools play a crucial role in ensuring that children have a healthy start. Young people spend more than half their day at school, making it vital to create a healthy school environment that encourages students to practice healthy lifestyles and improve academic achievement. If students learn to make healthy choices at school, they are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood. 

The Coordinated School Health Program components and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach are similar and play a key role in promoting student health. Key components of coordinated school health that effectively address the health of students include: 

• Health education 
• Healthy and safe school environment 
• Counseling and mental health services 
• Parent and community involvement 
• Staff wellness promotion
• Health services 
• Physical education 
• Nutrition services 

Ongoing professional development is essential for school health stakeholders, as it ensures successful implementation of effective changes. The DSHS school health program offers on-demand professional development opportunities you can access on the Action for Healthy Kids Impact Portal. Available on-demand courses include:

• Unassigned Medication Administration 
• School Health Advisory Councils 
• School Health Index Assessment 
• Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program 
• School Wellness Policies

For more detailed information and resources, visit the School Health Resource Library.  The School and Community Wellness page provides information about parent and community involvement in Texas schools. The School Policy and Assessment page offers resources regarding local wellness policies for schools. Resources for nutrition environment are available on the Nutrition in Schools page, while information on physical activity environment can be found on the Physical Education and Physical Activity page. For specific information about your school’s efforts to create a healthy school environment, please contact your school, school district, or education service center.