title: Applying the School Health Index to a nationally representative sample of schools.
abstract: The School Health Index (SHI) is a self-assessment and planning tool that helps individual schools identify the strengths and weaknesses of their health policies and programs. To determine the percentage of US schools meeting the recommendations in the SHI, the present study analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000. The SHPPS 2000 data were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews with faculty and staff in a nationally representative sample of schools. The SHPPS 2000 questions were then matched to SHI items to calculate the percentage of schools meeting the recommendations in 4 areas: school health and safety policies and environment, health education, physical education and other physical activity programs, and nutrition services. Although schools nationwide are meeting a few SHI items in each of these areas, few schools are addressing the entire breadth of items. A more coordinated approach to school health would help schools reinforce health messages.
authors.affiliation: Surveillance Research Team. nad1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pejavara
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crossett
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Howell
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wechsler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching; D014481:United States