Coordinated School Health Report Shows Gains for Tennessee Students

Nashville, TN –Tennessee’s Coordinated School Health program has created stronger and healthier school communities across the state according to the 2006 Tennessee Coordinated School Health Report. Data from the report shows significant academic and health gains for students in the ten school districts who have participated in the program since 2001. The ten pilot sites include: Gibson County, Trenton Special School District, Henry County, Stewart County, Loudon County, Monroe County, Putnam County, Macon County, Warren County, Tipton County, and Washington County.

“The Coordinated School Health model is one of the best programs in the nation for providing an excellent health education for an entire school community,” said Education Commissioner Lana Seivers. “In order to provide a quality education to all of students, educators must ensure that children have the resources available to address their overall health and ability to learn.”

Highlights from the 2006 Tennessee Coordinated School Health (CSH) Report show:

• School staff development time spent on health related issues increased a substantial 50% between 2005 and 2006.
• Improved student proficiency rates in reading, writing and language in grades K-8. The majority of students at CSH sites exceeded the statewide average scores for 2006.
• School nurse to student ratio made a dramatic improvement from 1 per 1,092 students in 2003 to 1 per 672 students in 2006. The percentage of students seen by a school nurse and returned to class was 91% in 2006 compared to 79% returned in 2003.This has provided more learning time for students.
• A decrease in the number of drug and alcohol violations across CSH sites from 5.2 per 1,000 students in 2003 to 3.5 per 1,000 students in 2006.
• Corporate/community sponsors and volunteers increased from an average of 84 per site in 2006 up from 46 per site in 2003.

Tennessee is leading the nation in the implementation of CDC’s Coordinated School Health model. In 2006, Tennessee’s General Assembly authorized the expansion and funding of CSH programs for all Tennessee school systems. Funds support the development of a local infrastructure to promote health and wellness for all students and staff.

The 2006 report was complied by Dr. Michael Dunn and staff from East Tennessee State University and is based upon data collected from the pilot sites that have implemented the Coordinated School Health model in their school systems since 2001.

Coordinated School Health is a comprehensive system designed to connect health with education. The model encompasses eight components: Comprehensive School Health Education (grades K-12), Physical Education and Activity, Nutrition Services, School Health Services, School Counseling, Psychological and Social Services, Healthy and Safe School Environment, Family and Community Involvement in Schools and Health Promotion for School Staff. For more information about this report, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.