Healthy school communities are school settings in which students, staff, or community members work collaboratively to ensure that each student is emotionally and physically healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. The Healthy School Communities Initiative (HSC) is a worldwide effort to promote the integration of health and learning and resource the benefits of school-community collaboration. It is part of a large, multiyear plan to shift public dialogue about education from a narrow focus on curriculum and accountability systems to a whole child approach that encompasses all factors required for successful student outcomes.
Since its inception, HSC has seen success with its school partners in turning around students’ lives and promoting healthy and promising school environments. One such school is the T.C. Howe Academy in Indianapolis, Ind., which is situated in a low-income, urban area. When HSC began working with T.C. Howe in 2004, the school had abysmal test scores and students were often exposed to violence, drugs, and myriad other social dysfunctions.
To improve the environment for students, HSC and T.C. Howe embarked on the pilot program of Creating a Healthy School Using the Healthy School Report Card (HRSC), a tool that provides schools with an assessment process based on research, best practices, and practical information related to healthy school environments. An HRSC team, including faculty, a psychiatrist, and a nurse, was created to develop ways to improve the whole child experience using the tool. They compiled data on the needs of students, examined urgent issues, and sought key ways to bring successful improvement in a short amount of time.
The HRSC team was able to identify ways to improve the school and have seen major improvements. In the 2005–06 school year, the overall grade point averages of students began to increase, healthier food options were made available, and numerous clubs and programs were created to enhance the school atmosphere. The dedication of the HRSC team, the faculty, the students, and the community made the school a healthier and more positive place for learning.
The school learned that patience and honesty were necessary to create changes and opportunities using the tool. By using all of the ideas the HRSC puts forth and by conferring with other faculty member and the community, the school saw vast improvements. These improvements did not come without effort or problems. However, with the proper funding and an open mind, T.C. Howe proved that positive change is possible.
Watch how two Healthy School Communities sites created healthy school environments that support learning and teaching:
