 Schools have a critical role to play in teaching young people about their personal health and the health of their community. Kindergarten through 12th grade health instruction is important, but schools can also help support healthy students in many other ways. The school environment can offer opportunities to reinforce learning that takes place at school, at home and in the community. Schools can establish and implement policies and programs that can be health enhancing to both students and faculty and provide opportunities to make healthy choices every day.
Schools vary tremendously in their commitment to health education, physical education and health related policies and programs. Support for school health must come from school staff, from parents and caring community members and from leaders around the country. Improving the health of children and youth requires awareness and change at many levels. It will take communities improving their environment, parents modeling healthy behaviors and schools teaching students as well as providing a healthy school environment to give children and youth the opportunities they need to make healthy choices and lead healthy lives.
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