Healthy and Supportive School Environments

Time spent at school allows children to engage with peers and adults and develop skills to enhance their relationship experiences. Schools that have a clean and pleasant physical environment helps set the stage for positive, respectful relationships.

To create schools that support student health and learning, school leaders can work towards a healthy and supportive school environment.¹

A healthy and supportive school environment helps children and adolescents develop the skills they need to recognize and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, appreciate the perspectives of others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

When school staff and families communicate, student health and learning can improve. Students can learn better in multiple settings as a result of these relationships—at home, in school, in out-of-school programs, and in the community.