School Health Guidelines

At a glance

  • CDC created the School Health Guidelines, highlighting research and best practices to promote healthy eating and physical activity in schools.
  • There are 9 School Health Guidelines that serve as the foundation of the document. They offer guidance for developing, implementing, and evaluating school-based healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices for students.

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School health guidelines at a glance

Use a coordinated approach to develop, implement, and evaluate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices

People from different segments of the school and community, including parents and students, should work together. The aim is to maximize healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for students.

  • Coordinate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices through a school health council and school health coordinator.
  • Assess healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices.
  • Use a systematic approach to develop, implement, and monitor healthy eating and physical activity policies.
  • Evaluate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices.

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Establish school environments that support healthy eating and physical activity

People from different segments of the school and community, including parents and students, should work to maximize healthy school environments for students.

  • Provide access to healthy foods and physical activity options.
  • Offer access to safe spaces, facilities, and equipment for healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Establish a climate that encourages and does not stigmatize healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Create a school environment that:
    • Encourages a healthy body image, shape, and size among all students and staff.
    • Does not tolerate weight-based teasing.
    • Is accepting of diverse abilities.

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Provide a quality school meal program and ensure that students have only appealing, healthy food and beverage choices offered outside of the school meal program

Schools should model and reinforce healthy dietary behaviors. Schools should ensure that only nutritious and appealing foods and beverages are provided in all food venues in schools. This includes school meal programs; à la carte service in the cafeteria; vending machines; school stores and snack bars/concessions stands. This also includes fundraisers on school grounds; classroom-based activities; staff and parent meetings; and after-school programs.

  • Promote access to and participation in school meals.
  • Provide nutritious and appealing school meals that comply with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • Ensure that all foods and beverages sold or served outside of school meal programs are nutritious and appealing.

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Implement a comprehensive physical activity program with quality physical education as the cornerstone

Children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Much of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive, school-based physical activity program. The program can include: physical education, recess, classroom-based physical activity, walk and bicycle to school, and out-of-school time activities.

  • Require students in grades K–12 to participate in daily physical education. Physical education should use a planned and sequential curriculum and instructional practices that are consistent with national or state standards.
  • Provide a substantial percentage of each student's recommended daily amount of physical activity in physical education class.
  • Use physical education instruction that enhance students' behavioral skills, confidence in their abilities, and desire to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle.
  • Provide ample opportunities for students to engage in physical activity outside of physical education class.
  • Ensure that physical education and other physical activity programs meet the needs and interests of all students.

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Implement health education that provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experiences needed for lifelong healthy eating and physical activity

Health education is integral to a school's mission, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful learners and healthy adults.

  • Require health education from pre-K through grade 12.
  • Implement a planned and sequential health education curriculum, based on national standards, that is culturally and developmentally appropriate. The curriculum should also address clear behavioral outcomes that promote healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Use curricula based on scientific evidence of effectiveness in helping students improve healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Use classroom instructional methods and strategies that are interactive, engage all students, and are relevant to their daily lives.

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Provide students with health, mental health, and social services to address healthy eating, physical activity, and related chronic disease prevention

Schools are responsible for students’ physical health, mental health, and safety during the school day. Schools should ensure resources are available to identify, follow up, and treat health and mental health conditions related to diet, physical activity, and weight.

  • Assess student needs related to physical activity, nutrition, and obesity, and provide counseling and other services as needed.
  • Ensure students have access to needed health, mental health, and social services.
  • Provide leadership by advocating for and coordinating effective school physical activity and nutrition policies and practices.

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Partner with families and community members in the development and implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies, practices, and programs

Partnerships among schools, families, and community members can enhance student learning. Such partnerships can also: promote consistent messaging about health behaviors; increase resources; and engage, guide, and motivate students to eat healthily and be active.

  • Encourage communication among schools, families, and community members to promote students' healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Involve families and community members on the school health council.
  • Develop and implement strategies for motivating families to participate in school-based programs and activities that promote healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Access community resources to help provide healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for students.
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness in healthy eating and physical activity practices throughout the school.

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Provide a school employee wellness program that includes healthy eating and physical activity services for all school staff members

School employee wellness programs can improve staff productivity, decrease employee absenteeism, and decrease employee health care costs.

  • Gather data and information to determine the nutrition and physical activity needs of school staff members. Then assess the availability of existing school employee wellness activities and resources.
  • Encourage administrative support for and staff involvement in school employee wellness.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate healthy eating and physical activity programs for all school employees.

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Employ qualified people, and provide professional development opportunities for physical education, health education, nutrition services, and health, mental health, and social services staff members, as well as staff members who supervise recess, cafeteria time, and out-of-school-time programs

Providing regular professional development opportunities to certified and qualified staff enables them to improve current skills and acquire new ones.

  • Require the hiring of physical education teachers, health education teachers, and nutrition services staff members who are certified and prepared to deliver quality instruction.
  • Provide school staff with annual professional development opportunities to deliver quality physical education, health education, and nutrition services.
  • Provide annual professional development opportunities for school health, mental health, and social services staff members. Also provide professional development to staff members who lead or supervise out-of-school time programs, recess, and cafeteria time.

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Resources

Tips for Teachers
Tips and resources for teachers to promote healthy eating and physical activity in the classroom.

2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Science-based recommendations to help people aged 2 years or older develop good dietary habits. Such habits can promote health and reduce the risk for major chronic diseases.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition
Science-based recommendations to help people aged 6 years or older improve their health through physical activity.

Healthy People 2030 Topics and Objectives
Science-based, 10-year objectives for improving the health of Americans.

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Content Source:
Division of Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion