School Health Programs, Improving Our Nation's Youth - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) School Health Program information at-a-glance
Coordinated School Health (CSH) - Outline of the rationale and goals for CSH, a framework for implementing CSH, and resources for schools, districts and states for improving their school health programs
Building a Healthier Future Through School Health Programs - From CDC's Promising Practices in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Guidelines for a Coordinated Approach to School Health - Addressing the Physical, Social and Emotional Needs of the School Community (Connecticut State Department of Education)
Guidelines for Coordinating School Health Programs (Maine Department of Education and Maine Department of Health and Human Services) – Examines best practices and outlines a step by step approach for CSH programs
Comprehensive Health Education Network (CHEN) listserv - Mailing list for national, state, and local school health professionals

Academic Achievement and School Health

CDC Student Health and Academic Achievement - Includes data and statistics as well as links to publications regarding the connection between health and academic achievement
Making the Connection: Health and Student Achievement - Presentation about the connection between Coordinated School Health and academic achievement (Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education)
What School Administrators Can Do to Enhance Student Learning by Supporting a Coordinated Approach to Health (American School Health Association)
What School Boards Can Do to Enhance Student Learning by Supporting a Coordinated Approach to Health (National School Boards Association)
Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Academic Performance - Demonstrates the link between physical activity and improved academic performance and recommends ways to include physical activity in the school day without jeopardizing classroom learning time
Increasing Physical Activity Through Recess - Research brief summarizing the large body of research that shows that providing recess is an effective way to increase physical activity and academic performance

Assessment and Planning

School Health Index - A self-assessment and planning guide that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs
Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) - Tool to help school districts, schools, and others conduct an analysis of health education curricula based on the National Health Education Standards
Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) - A self-assessment and planning guide designed to help schools and school districts analyze physical education curricula based on national physical education standards
Academic Success Toolkit - designed for School Based Health Centers and advocates to articulate the connection between SBHC and academic success and campaign for sustaining and expanding the SBHC model
Enhanced Physical Education Strategic Plan - Provides "roadmap" for implementing the vision that all children K-12 will participate in daily, high-quality physical education (Illinois Department of Public Health)

Collaboration and Partnership

How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools: A Primer for Professionals Who Serve Children (National Association of State Boards of Education) - Outlines benefits when health professionals and educators work together as well as tips for collaboration between administrators, educators, and policymakers
Partnering for Success: How Health Departments Work and How to Work with Health Departments (National Association of Chronic Disease Directors) - Outlines eleven key ways that health departments can help advance school health goals
Promoting Healthy Youth, Schools and Communities: A Guide to Community- School Health Councils (American Cancer Society) - Guide to assist school districts in developing and successfully maintaining new school health councils

Evaluation

Multisite Evaluation of Coordinated School Health - Evaluation designed to identify characteristics of strong systematic approaches to CSH and enhance the understanding of what makes these approaches successful
Evaluation of Florida Coordinated School Health Program from the National Institute of Health

Parent and Family Involvement

Parent Engagement: Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health - Describes strategies and actions schools can take to increase parent engagement in promoting positive health behaviors among students
Texas Guide to School Health Programs: Parent and Community Involvement - Comprehensive guide to involving parents and community members in seven different aspects of coordinated school health

Policy

A CDC Review of School Laws and Policies Concerning Child and Adolescent Health - Describes the health related laws and policies under which schools operate
- Executive Summary
State School Health Policy Database - Resource that compiles laws and policies from 50 states and more that 40 school health topics, including coordination, school health councils and school health coordinators (National Association of State Boards of Education)
School Policies on Physical Education and Physical Activity - Summarizes peer-reviewed literature on physical activity in and out of school. Also included are policy implications and areas for additional research
Making the Connection: Linking Policies to Improve Public Safety with Preventing Childhood Obesity - Addresses the link between improving the safety and built environment of a neighborhood and reducing childhood obesity, also sets forth policy recommendations to enhance infrastructure and ensure children have opportunities for safe physical activity

Professional Associations

Health Education Teachers

School-Based Health Centers

General School Health

American School Health Association

Nutrition Services Directors/Managers or Nutritionists

Physical Education Teachers

National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)

School Heath Coordinators

American School Health Association, School Health Coordinators

School Nurses

National Association of School Nurses

School Psychologists, Counselors, and Social Workers

Professional Development

National Professional Development - Provides resources, technical assistance, and professional development for CDC funded partners addressing coordinated school health

Promising Practices

Building Healthier Schools - Describes collaborations in county health departments and school districts to promote physical activity and nutrition (National Association of County and City Health Officials)
Program Success Stories - Exemplary work of CDC funded partners to promote health through schools
Making It Happen! School Nutrition Success Stories - Stories of innovative strategies to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages in schools
Promising District Practices - National School Boards Association database of school district successes in implementing policies and practices that address health risk behaviors and promote health
SPARK Coordinated School Health Program - Developed and field tested approaches to Coordinated School Health from SPARK, a research-based public health organization
The Healthy Schools Partnership - Presentation about the Coordinated School Health Program in Harvey, Illinois: webmedia.unmc.edu/.../8.../CSHP-Presentation-8-18-05.ppt
Jackson County Department of Health - Presentation about Coordinated School Health efforts in Jackson County, IL and the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program implemented by Southern Illinois University
- CATCH - Evidence based, coordinated school health program designed to promote physical activity, healthy food choices and prevention of tobacco use in children

(The previous Coordinated School Health resources have been compiled by the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, using resources from the CDC)

Enhancing Physical Education and Physical Activity in Illinois Schools

Guides for Working with Schools

Working with Schools to Increase Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents in Physical Education Classes: An Action Guide
- Moving More at School - Research Briefs and Facts Sheets outlining the importance of increasing physical activity and education as well as the link between increased physical activity and improved academic performance
School Wellness Councils - How to convene a wellness council to plan and implement school improvements

Assessment Tools

Assessments that can lead to recognition, rewards, or monetary awards

HealthierUS Schools Challenge - Voluntary certification initiative to recognize schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments
Blue Ribbon Award - Recognizes high performing public and private elementary, middle, and high schools
Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program National Recognition Award - This award is given nationally to acknowledge schools that have implemented changes in order to create healthier school environments

Assessments that can be utilized to implement particular approaches to wellness

School Health Index - A self-assessment and planning tool to develop an action plan for improving student health

Tools for assessing P.E. curricula and the proportion of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) during P.E. classes

SOFIT Tool - This tool allows researchers, teachers and supervisors to collect and analyze data about different physical education lessons and assess the success of those lessons as they relate to program goals. An observer training DVD and other materials are available.
The President's Council announced that they are phasing out their Youth Fitness test, and will partner with Fitnessgram regarding fitness testing protocols.

Other wellness-related assessments

SOPLAY - Tool to provide data on the number of participants and the physical activity levels during play and leisure time during the school day
Community Healthy Living Index for schools - Index which examines the environmental and social supports for healthy eating and active living among youth and families, and provides information about healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for community members
HECAT for assessing Health Education curriculum - Tool for schools and districts to conduct a complete and consistent analysis of a health education curriculum based on National Health Education Standards
National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) P.E. teacher evaluation tool - A tool for K-12 administrators and school district curriculum specialists to identify knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to provide well-rounded PE instruction to K-12 students, it can also be used to identify areas of professional growth for PE teachers

Standards and Recommendations

National standards and recommendations for P.E. and physical activity, e.g.,

NASPE- National Standards for physical education
ISBE - Illinois standards for physical education as outlined by the Illinois State Board of Education
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans - Federal government issued description of the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans
Healthy People 2010 goals - National guidelines for physical activity for Americans
Institute of Medicine recommendations - Recommendations for preventing early childhood obesity and increasing healthy eating and physical activity
American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures - Guidelines for promoting physical activity and healthy living for children and adolescents

Federal standards for creating and monitoring wellness policies

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 - Legislation authorizing funding and setting policy for USDA core nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Programs, School Breakfast Programs, and WIC
Illinois School District 65 Wellness Policy - Evanston/Skokie school district Wellness policy including Let's Move! Campaign information
Illinois School District 229 Wellness Policy - Oak Lawn Community High School health and wellness changes as a result of their Model Communities award

Illinois-specific information

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Illinois Enhanced PE strategic plan which provides a framework for implementing high quality physical education for all K-12 Illinois kids
Enhanced School-Based Physical Education - Illinois Department of Public Health Fact Sheet on enhancing school-based P.E.
Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health
ISBE resources for developing wellness policies - Including sample local wellness policy, child nutrition programs, legislation regulations and policy and monitoring and program requirements
ISBE Training Resources and Workshops - eTrainings, Workshops and other training resources

Curricula - Tools and Resources

P.E. curriculum suggestions

SPARK Physical Education Programs - Four evidence-based physical education programs that promote new and innovative approaches to PE content and instruction
Physical Activity and Teenage Health (PATH) program - A school based intervention for adolescent girls designed to prevent risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease
Youth Fit for Life - 12 week after-school physical activity program for children ages 5-12 who are already enrolled in after-school care
Eat Well and Keep Moving - Comprehensive approach to motivating upper-elementary students to eat better and stay active
Bienestar Health Program - Culturally tailored school- based diabetes prevention program for low-income Mexican American children
Planet Health - Complete curriculum that helps physical education teachers guide middle school student in choosing healthy foods, increasing physical activity, and limiting TV and other screen time
Five for Life - K-12 fitness and health program that uses age appropriate academic tools in an activity based setting and also allows for students to measure their fitness levels
Walk Across Illinois Challenge - Program encourages all Illinois residents to walk 167 miles during the year, the equivalent of walking from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan

Incorporating physical activity throughout the day

NASPE- Resources for Physical Activity Breaks
10 Simple Activities to Encourage Physical Activity in the Classroom
Active Academics - A way to integrate physical activity into lessons, by grade and subject matter

Opportunities for professional development for P.E. teachers

The Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) regional workshops and state convention

Opportunities for professional development for non-P.E. teachers and other school staff

National Food Service Management Institute's Culinary Techniques Training for food service staff

Model wellness policies and programming

ISBE - Local Model Wellness Policy
National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity - Model School Wellness Policies
Action for Healthy Kids - Wellness policy tool:
California Project Lean - A Guide to Implementing Local School Wellness Policy
"Exercise Your Mind: Collaborating to Enhance Physical Education in Illinois Schools" - A webinar about the link between PE, physical activity, and academic performance

Monitor and Reward Progress - Rewards and Recognition Programs

School or school district awards

See above - under "Assessment"

Teacher awards

Margie R. Hanson Elementary PE Distinguished Service Award - An award given to recognize senior professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of physical education for children
NASPE Teacher of the Year Award - Award to honor exemplary elementary, middle, and high school PE teachers across the country
NASPE Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award - Award given to an outstanding role model who encourages student involvement in professional opportunities and provides exemplary academic preparation

School administrator awards

Channing Mann K-12 P.E. Administrator of the Year Award - Award given to administrators and supervisors dedicated to the mission of NASPE and school leadership
NASPE Athletic Director of the Year Award - Award recognizes secondary school athletic directors who exemplify the highest professional standards and who have made significant contributions to the community and school

Awards for P.E. teacher education programming

P.E. Teacher Education Honor Award (AAHPERD) - Award honors exemplary work for a service, product, or collaboration that benefits physical education teacher education:

Other awards

Illinois Interagency Nutrition Council Community Partnership Award - Recognizes programs that promote healthy lifestyles

(The previous Enhancing Physical Education resource guide was compiled by the Illinois Public Health Institute and the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition)