Health Education

The Health Education program is one component of a Coordinated School Health Programs. Health Education programs provide a setting in which teachers, parents, and community members partner to help students focus on health prevention concepts and to practice life skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The National Health Education Standards form the framework for health education curriculum. The National Standards are used by schools to support programs that allow students to become healthy and enable them to succeed academically.

There is a Howard County Essential Curriculum for Health Education for students in pre-Kindergarten to grade 9. The curriculum is sequential and based on the developmental level of the students. At the elementary level, the health education curriculum is implemented by the classroom teacher. At the secondary level, the curriculum is implemented in grades six to nine by a health education teacher. At the high school level students are required to take one semester of health education to earn a half-credit towards graduation requirements.

Program Goals

The health education curriculum supports the following state goals as outlined by Maryland State Department of Education:

Health Content Concepts:

Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.

Analyzing Influences:

Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.

Accessing Information:

Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products, and services to enhance health.

Interpersonal Communication:

Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.

Decision Making:

Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.

Goal Setting:

Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal setting skills to enhance health.

Self Management:

Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

Advocacy:

Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

PreK-12 Curriculum

Additional Resources

Contact

Coordinator, Eric Bishop