How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools

James F. Bogden National Association of State Boards of Education June 2003

Objectives

 Learn who are the decision makers at various levels of the education system  Identify strategies for engaging with and influencing education decision makers  Identify strategies for improving school health-related policies and practices  Become aware of some of the valuable resources available to school health advocates

How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools

 How education works at the school, district, state, and national levels  Practical tips for how to work with educators, administrators, and policymakers  Updated and expanded 2003 Order at www.nasbe.org

YOUTH

A Cast of Thousands

Governor

State level

Legislature State board of education Chief state school officer State education agency staff

School district level

School board Superintendent Central office staff

Local government

School level

Principal School staff

School improvement council

Key Issues Confronted by Schools

 Education reform pressures  Accountability • Students • School district • School • Individual teachers  High stakes testing  Federal versus state versus local control  School finance / funding

More Key Issues Confronted by Schools

 Ready-to-learn issues  Students enter with extremely different levels of readiness  Non-academic barriers to learning  Changing demands, expectations, perceptions about public education  What is a “good school”?

 Sustaining support for public education  Aging population  Economic choices

Who’s Who at the School Level

 The principal is key  Entry points  School improvement team  School health council  Health and mental health services staff  Classroom teachers  Parent organizations  Student organizations Principal School staff

School improvement council

School Health Advisory Council

 Tool for identifying priorities and strategies  Broad-based representation  School personnel  Community professionals  Parents  Students  Others?

 School-level to advise principal  District-wide to advise school board

Guides to School Health Councils

Obtain through your local American Cancer Society chapter or call 1-800-ACS-2345 Iowa Department of Public Health www.idph.state.ia.us/ fch/fam_serv/advisory.htm

Who’s Who at the School District Level

In theory….

 The school board makes policy  The superintendent implements it School board Superintendent Central office staff

Local government

How to Work with School District Leaders

 Formal approaches  Service on board and administration advisory committees  Testimony at meetings and public hearings  Written communications  Informal approaches:  Direct contact with board members and administrators  Enlist influential “key communicators”  Make presentations at meetings and conferences attended by policymakers

Who’s Who at the State Level

Governor Legislature State board of education Chief state school officer State education agency staff  Become knowledgeable about who has what authority and how they interact

Preparing a Policy Initiative

 Monitor agendas, discussions, board processes, and board members’ interests  Identify policy gaps  Compose rationale for adopting policy  Develop key messages and simple strategies  Compile accurate data from credible sources  Anticipate and prepare for potential conflicts

Presenting Information

 Make a brief oral presentation of only the most important points  Submit a succinct written rationale  Present disparate research findings from credible organizations in a neutral, balanced manner  Use clear language (i.e., a minimum of academic, public health, and social services jargon)  Unadorned charts and graphs illustrate key findings

Persuading Education Leaders

 Note serious problems/needs, but emphasize solutions  Link to existing policies, programs, and goals  Use current terminology (‘education reform’, ‘ready to learn’, ‘academic achievement’)  Highlight school health as an emerging trend  Identify policy options  Be honest about costs and potential implementation problems

Moving the Issue Forward

 Brief sympathetic policymakers on answers to difficult questions that might arise in public meetings  Enlist respected community members to express their support  Enlist the endorsement of the business community  Help students research issues, prepare presentations, and be included on public-hearing agendas  Suggest a pilot study if a policy or program does not gain support

Persistence Pays

 Respect the hierarchy  Stay focused on the ultimate goal  Don’t expect quick or easy success  Sustain the effort  Be willing to compromise…but know your bottom line  Don’t burn your bridges

Useful Resources

1.

Data sources 2.

Information and guidance 3.

Making the case

New York Times

1.

Data Sources

50 Health Education Requirements in U.S. Schools, by Grade 39 39 41 42 44 40 33 30 27 22 20 20 10 9 10 3 2 0 K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th11th12th

Source: CDC, School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000

 Periodic national survey  Assesses policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels  In elementary, middle/junior, and senior high schools  State report cards on the Internet www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/shpps/index.htm

Percent of U.S. high school students who…

  Did not attend physical education class daily Ate less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day during the past 7 days

68% 79%

 Drank < 3 glasses of milk per day during the past 7 days

84%

 Did not participate in moderate physical activity

74%

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/2001/index.htm

Annie E. Casey Foundation

 Annual KIDS COUNT Data Book  State-by-state and national indicators of child well-being are available through an interactive online database  View state profiles, graphs, maps, and rankings  Download raw data www.aecf.org/kidscount

2.

Information and Guidance

CDC’s Guidelines for School Health Programs

Physical Activity Healthy Eating www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/healthtopics/guidelines.htm

Health Is Academic

Health Is Academic : A Guide to Coordinated School Health Programs

Eva Marx, Susan Wooley, Daphne Northrup, eds., 1998, Teachers College Press www2.edc.org/HealthIsAcademic

School Health Index: A Self Assessment and Planning Guide

 Identify your own school’s strengths and weaknesses  Prioritize issues  Develop an action plan  Involve teachers, students, parents, and community  Download free at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ dash/SHI/index.htm

National Health Education Standards

Summary at www.aahperd.org/AAHE

USDA’s School Meals Initiative

 Helping school meals become more consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans  Adding flexibility in procedures used to plan and monitor school menus

Valuable Resource from USDA

 Complete action kit  action guide  resource materials  brochures  transparencies  video  CD-ROM Order free at www.fns.usda.gov/tn

Food Research and Action Council

“Working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and under nutrition in the United States”

Sample statistic:

Percent of Missouri schools participating in the school breakfast program that also participate in the school lunch program:

78%

www.frac.org/

Major North Carolina Initiative



Blueprint for Changing Policies and Environments in Support of Healthy Eating



Blueprint for Changing Policies and Environments in Support of Increased Physical Activity

Download free at: www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com

Nutrition Education Programs

http://navigator.tufts.edu/index.html

National Physical Education Standards

Moving Into the Future: National Physical Education Standards: A Guide to Content and Assessment

National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) www.aahperd.org/naspe

Fall 2000 Report to the President Promoting Better Health for Young People Through Physical Activity and Sports

A Report to the President From the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/ presphysactrpt/index.htm

Connecticut PE Guide

Physical Education: A Guide to K-12 Program Development

www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/ curriculum/pe_publ_guide1.htm

Physical Activity Ideas for Schools

Active Youth: Ideas for Implementing CDC Physical Activity Promotion Guidelines

www.humankinetics.com

KidsWalk-to-School

 Comes with   A step-by-step checklist Sample letters, surveys, evaluations, and press releases   Safety tips on walking, biking, school bus safety, and stranger danger tips Ideas to make walking to school an active and exciting part of the day. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/ kidswalk/kidswalk_guide.htm

Wellness Programs For School Staff

PEP —A Personal Energy Plan

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pep.htm

Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide

• Guide to policymaking • Sample policies - download at www.nasbe.org/ healthyschools/fithealthy.mgi

• Full explanations • Research findings • Notable quotes • Excerpts of actual policies • Resource lists

Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide

A. Overview B. The Art of Policymaking C. General School Health Policies D. Policies to Promote Physical Activity E. Policies to Promote Healthy Eating F. Policies to Help Prevent Tobacco Use G. Policies to Promote Sun Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer

H. Policies to Help Prevent HIV, Other STDs, and Pregnancy Among Young People I. Policies on the Treatment and Prevention of Asthma at School

Healthy Youth Funding Database http://www2.cdc.gov/nccdphp/shpfp/index.asp

3.

Making the Case

Prevalence of Obesity Among US Adults

25 20 15 10 5 0 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Year

“Super-Sized” Children Ages 6-11

1999 14 12 10 8 Percent 6 4 2 0 1963-65 1971-74 1976-80 1988-94 Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls All

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics

Televisions in the Home

Children who live in homes with 3 or more TVs 1970 6% 1999 60% Sixth graders with a TV in their bedroom 6% 77% Source: Kaiser Family Foundation.

Kids and Media at the New Millenium,

1999 www.kff.org

Average Daily Time Children Spent Using Media

Television Videotapes Video games Computer Ages 2-7

1:59 :29 :08 :07

Ages 8-18

3:16 :45 :27 :31

Total

2:43 4:59 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation.

Kids and Media at the New Millenium,

1999

“Generation XXL” High School Students

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 At-Risk White Hispanic Black Girls Boys

Source: CDC, National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2001

Missouri Overweight Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys

School Health Starter Kit

From:

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) www.ccsso.org/ starterkit.html

Building Business Support for School Health Programs

 Step-by-step action guide  Field-tested at the state and local levels in New Mexico www.nasbe.org/ NASBE_Bookstore/ Safe_Healthy.html

Effects of Health Risk Behaviors on Academic Performance

  Education outcomes   graduation rates  class grades  performance on standardized tests Education behaviors attendance  Student attitudes  aspirations for postsecondary education  feelings about safety at school  positive personal outlook  dropout rates  behavioral problems  involvement in school activities such as homework and extracurricular pursuits Wolford-Symons, C. et al., “Bridging student health risks and academic achievement through comprehensive school health programs,”

Journal of School Health

, 1997

From the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning

 Increased participation in the breakfast program  Improved attentiveness  Fewer discipline referrals  Fewer visits to the health office 

Increased math and reading scores

 High teacher and parent satisfaction http://fns.state.mn.us/energize.pdf

Opinions of Parents of Adolescents

 Percent who said that health education is either more important than or as important as other subjects taught in school:

82%

 Percent who said schools should spend more time or the same amount of time teaching health education as they do for other subjects taught in school:

74%

Source: Gallup Organization for the American Cancer Society, national telephone survey of 1,003 parents of adolescents enrolled in U.S. public schools, 1993

Opinions of Parents of Children in Grades K-12

 Want their kids to receive daily physical education:

81%

 Believe that children should concentrate on academic subjects at school and leave physical activities for after school:

15%

Source: Survey by Opinion Research Corp. based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,017 adults, February 2000 (margin of error = +6%)

Percent of Respondents Who Said Students Should Definitely Know or Be Able to Do Subject Standards by High School Graduation

www.mcrel.org

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5

Rank Subject

1 Health

2 Work skills Language arts Technology Mathematics Thinking and reasoning Science Civics Behavioral studies Physical education Economics History

Average % of “Definitely” responses

74

63 59 57 50 50 49 49 48 44 43 41

Full Speed Ahead!

James F. Bogden

Safe and Healthy Schools Project Director National Association of State Boards of Education  Internet: www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools  E-mail: [email protected]

 703-684-4000 x108