Surveillance for Characteristics of Health Education among Secondary Schools: School Health Education Profiles, 1998. CDC Surveillance Summaries.

This study investigated characteristics of secondary school health education, examining 36 state surveys and 10 local surveys conducted among representative samples of school principals and lead health educators. From February-May 1998, most schools in participating states and cities required health education in grades 6-12. Of these, a median of 91 percent of schools in states and 86.2 percent of schools in cities taught separate health education courses. The median percentage of schools in each state and city that tried to increase student knowledge in selected topics was greater than 73 percent for each of several topics (e.g., pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, violence, and dietary behaviors). The median percentage of schools with a health educator who coordinated health education was 38.7 across states and 37.6 across cities. A median of 41.8 percent of schools across states and 31.0 percent across cities had a lead health educator with professional preparation in health and physical education. A median of 19.3 percent of schools across states and 2.12 percent across cities had a school health advisory council. The median percentage of schools with a written school or district policy on HIV-infected students or staff was 69.7 percent across states and 84.4 percent across cities. (Contains 14 tables and 11 references.) (SM)