Department of Education
Dr. Tim Webb, Commissioner
About the Office of Coordinated School Health
The Office of Coordinated School Health (OCSH) was established by the Tennessee Department of Education in February, 2001. The primary mission of the office is to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practices, academic achievement, and lifetime wellness. OCSH partners with the Tennessee Department of Health - Office of School Health. With the passage of TCA 49-1-1002 in 2000, authorization and funding for CSH was established. Additional funding has been provided by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Education reforms have not succeeded in improving the performance of all students, particularly those who do not arrive at school ready to learn. Coordinated School Health encourages healthy lifestyles, provides needed supports to at-risk students, and helps to reduce the prevalence of health problems that impair academic success.
Coordinated School Health(CSH) is an effective system designed
to connect health (physical, emotional and social) with education.
This coordinated approach improves students' health and their capacity to learn
through the support of families, communities and schools working together.
The CSH approach consists of eight major components. By definition, all Coordinated
School Health components work together to improve the lives of students and
their families. Although these components are listed separately, it is their
composite that allows CSH to have significant impact. The eight components
include: health education, physical education/physical activity, health services,
nutrition services, health promotion for staff, counseling and psychological
services, healthy school environment and student/parent/community involvement.
New Student Immunization Requirements
The Tennessee Department of Health has new immunization requirements for children attending schools. Learn more by visiting the department's web site at: http://health.state.tn.us/CEDS/required.htm. Click here to view or download the Department of Health's immunization rule notification for parents:
New Immunization Rule Notification to Parents
Helpful Links
Governor's Project Diabetes 
