Research and Resources

If you are working on a School Health Advisory Council, trying to update your wellness policies or want more information about Texas laws and policies, check out the links below.

Assessment Tools

School Health Index (SHI)
NOTE: Action for Healthy Kids has a shortened version of the SHI that is free to use through our school portal. It also provides an action plan for schools.

WellSAT
This tool can help you evaluate your wellness policy and determine where you have opportunities to improve.

Everything SHAC

SHAC Resources: www.itstimetexas.org/SHAC

SHAC Webinars on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/momamiatx

SHAC Guide: www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/sdhac.shtm

Texas Education Agency (TEA), School Health: www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=4445

Healthy Lifestyles Chair, Texas PTA: https://www.txpta.org/healthy-lifestyles/

Texas Child Nutrition Policy: www.squaremeals.org/

TEA Laws and Rules: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147509089

National Resources

State School Health Policy Data Base: www.nasbe.org/healthy_schools/hs/

Whole Child/Healthy Schools/Coordinated School Health – CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/

Model School Wellness Policies (CSPI/NANA): http://www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org/schoolsnacks.html

ASCD Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child: http://www.ascd.org/programs/learning-and-health/wscc-model.aspx

Policy and Legislative Updates

TX AFHK works with the Partnership for a Healthy Texas on obesity related legislation. The Texas legislature is reviewing the legislation below this session. The session will end on Monday May 27th and we will provide you with an update on any new legislation that will impact schools. If you are interested in keeping track of these bills you can go to www.capitol.tx.gov and enter each bill. Or you can visit the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living Legislature Bill Tracker.

• Require school districts to institute recess policies that allow children the opportunity to practice life skills and be active.
  • HB 455 (Allen): Voted favorably out of House Human Services. SB 364 (Watson) filed and referred to Senate Education.
• Increase quality physical education (PE) in schools to ensure our children are active, healthy and ready to learn.
  • House Budget rider for $500,000 moved to Article XI to provide grants to schools to help certify PE teachers
• Update minimum standards for child care facilities for nutrition, active play, and screen time to allow the smallest Texans the opportunity to build a healthy life.
  • HB 1808 (Lucio) filed and referred to House Human Services. SB 951 (Watson) filed and referred to Senate Health and Human Services

Texas News

Check out the Awesome ALDI special event celebrating Every Kid Healthy Week at Stephens Elementary school!

Check out these Texas schools that are helping kids be healthy, active and ready to learn!

Whitaker Elementary in El Paso has turned an unused space into a  place where children and families can play, learn, grow and just be!

Getting a Healthy Start at Austin Achieve Public Schools

Transforming Student Outcomes at YES Prep Bray Oaks

Colonial Hills in San Antonio is Making Health a Priority

 

We would like to recognize these wonderful 2019 Healthy School Heroes from across Texas!

Erika Bernhard Fort Bend ISD

Amy Mead Lily B Clayton Elementary, Fort Worth ISD

Terri Pitts, Colonial Hills Elementary, North East ISD

Larry Powell, Hillsboro Junior High, Hillsboro ISD

 

We would like to recognize these outstanding school district School Health Advisory Councils who have been awarded the IT’S TIME TEXAS SHAC in Action Award. Thank you for your commitment to creating and sustaining healthy schools across Texas!

El Paso School Health project is going strong! We are at the one-year mark, and community partners and school districts are working together to make schools a healthy learning environment. In November we held a Healthy Schools Summit where five school districts and a host of community partners learned about the Whole Child model, the Learning Connection, School Health Advisory Councils, and Wellness Policies. We broke into groups and discussed recess, school meals, and Safe Routes to School. Anthony ISD provided breakfast and El Paso ISD provided lunch. In Jan. we hosted a Coalition meeting to celebrate our progress and begin planning for 2019-20.