Welcome to CA Health Education Framework Administrator and Leadership Professional Learning Section 3: Health Education Policies and Mandates. Section 3 was created to help administrators assume responsibility for Health Education-related Education Code Mandates and board policies that will guide implementation of Health Education programs.
Learning Outcomes for Section 3
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Acknowledge responsibility for implementing Ed Code Mandates, Policies, Regulations
- Identify key Ed Code Mandates, State and Federal Laws and Regulations
- Locate sample Health Education-related Board Policies and Administrative Regulations
1. Critical Concepts
[READ] (1 min)
- Who is responsible for student Health Education in CA schools?
- Health Education is the responsibility of school administrators, district boards and educational leaders
- What is included in these responsibilities?
- Administrators and leaders are to ensure, secure, promote, and value Health Education
- How can administrators fulfill these responsibilities?
- Develop policies, plans and budgets prioritizing Health Education
2. Key Terms
[READ] (8 min)
Education Code and Mandates
- California’s Health Education mandates are found in the Education Code
- Education Code (Ed Code or EC) are laws passed by the State Legislature, that with the governor’s approval, guide Local Education Agencies or LEA’s (school boards, county offices of education) in governing public schools)
- LEA’s are responsible for complying with the Ed Code mandates, which means that school districts must meet the requirement as stated
- LEA’s are allowed to go above and beyond the Ed Code requirements, and free to take any action not specifically prohibited
- Ed Code can only be altered temporarily, by Executive Order, or permanently, by vote of the Legislature
Administrative Code, Government Code and Federal Law and other Federal Regulations
- Other CA Health Education-related mandates may be found in California Administrative Code, Titles 5 and 8:
- Health Education general statutes from Federal Laws pertaining to schools include School and Student Wellness, and TUPE, making up additional legally mandated regulations.
Board Policies (BP)
Board policies are broad statements of beliefs, based on Ed Code mandates and regulations
Find CA district Sample and Model Health Education Board Policies here
Policies describe the purpose and prescribe in general terms, organization of the system
Health Education Policy creates a framework for operating the program in schools, and how the superintendent and staff will discharge duties in support of Health Education (see examples below)
CA School Boards Association is a good source for sample Board Policies
3. Sample Board Policy and AR Resources
[READ] (4 min): Explore sample K-12 Health Education program Board Policy and Adminstrative Regualtion documents.
4. Education Codes for Health Education
Health Education in Grades 1-6
[READ] (2 min): EC 51210 requires the course of study in Grade 1-6 include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Social sciences
- Science
- Visual and performing arts
- Health
- Physical education
[READ] (2 min):
Health Education in Elementary School (Ed Code)
Health Education in Grades 7-12
- Health Education instruction and certain content is required for all students in Grades 7-12
- How content is delivered is a local decision
[READ] (4 min):
EC 51202 (1993)
Mandates Certain Health Education Content in Grades K-12 The adopted course of study shall provide instruction at the appropriate elementary and secondary grade levels and subject areas in:
- Personal and public safety and accident prevention, including emergency first aid instruction, instruction in hemorrhage control, treatment for poisoning, resuscitation techniques, and CPR.
- Fire prevention
- Protection and conservation of resources, including the necessity for the protection of our environment
- Health, including venereal disease (term needs to be updated to sexually transmitted infections)
- Effects of alcohol, narcotics, drugs, and tobacco upon the human body.
[READ] (2 min):
EC 51225.6. (CPR 2017)
(a) If the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school requires a course in health education for graduation from high school, the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school shall include, commencing with the 2018–19 school year, instruction in performing compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
[READ] (2 min):
Health Education in Middle School[READ] (2 min):
Health Education in High School5. Other Health Education-related State & Federal Mandates and Student Health Initiatives
[READ] (10 min): While a Health Education course in grades 7-12 is not required, there are other required health related educational mandates and current initiatives that fit best in a Health Education course:
- The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 mandated that all districts participating in the school meal program have a Local School Wellness Policy. This policy must address skill based education around nutrition and physical activity.
- The California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) has mandated Comprehensive Sexual Health Education one time in middle school and one time in high school.
- CHYA includes prevention education around Human Trafficking and we have had several additional assembly bills adding to the mandated instruction that must be provided.
- Suicide prevention policy, which previously was required only for grades 7-12, but has recently been extended to grades K-6 starting 2020-2021. This policy must address prevention related education for students.
Additional Initiatives in place across the state include:
Self-Reflection Questions
Who has responsibility for implementing Health Education in CA schools?
What are 2 areas of responsibility for administrators in supporting Health Education?
What is one Content Area of Health Education required in high school?
What is the name of a CA organization that provides Sample Comprehensive Health Education Board Policy?
