The recommendations and supporting research provided here, were developed by the TSHAC to assist school districts in their efforts to comply with current legislative requirements related to the eight components of coordinated school health; and, offer support to school decision makers as they navigate prevailing school health issues.
Recommendation and Research on Benefits to Students in School Districts that Prohibit Physical Activity as Punishment
Motivating students to pursue and continue active lifestyles is an obtainable goal and serves as an effective strategy to reduce the public health burden of chronic diseases associated with inactivity. A singular barrier that can be both physically and emotionally harmful to children and youth is the practice of using physical activity as punishment and/or behavior management.Developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee and approved at their September 12, 2011 committee meeting, this document was developed to assist local School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) to revise or update Wellness Policies or other district policies/regulations to prohibit the use of physical activity as punishment.
Recommendation and Research on Health Education for all Texas Students K-12 Grade Revised 1-14-13 (Word 105KB)
Revisions to Recommendation and Research on Health Education for all Texas Students, Kindergarten through 12th Grade were approved by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their January 14, 2013 meeting. This document was prepared specifically to support local school districts in their efforts to recommend a half credit of health education as a graduation requirement for all high school students.
A sample school district resolution is also provided for School Health Advisory Councils to use if making the same recommendation to their local school board.
Sample resolution: Recommendation and Research on Health Education for all Texas Students (Word 53K)
Recommendations for the Improvement of the Coordinated School Health Program (Word 50K)
Recommendations for modifications to coordinated health program requirements were developed by the TSHAC and approved at their May 11, 2009 meeting after a review of the results of an analysis provided by the Texas Education Agency of the student fitness assessment conducted in Texas schools during the 2007-2008 school year as required by law during the 80th legislative session.
Recommendations for Offering Physical Activity Outside of the School Day (Word 97K) This document details options and recommendations for providing moderate or vigorous daily physical activity for students for at least 30 minutes outside the seven-hour instructional day as required by law during the 80th legislative session. These recommendations were developed by the Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the Texas School Health Advisory Committee.
Recommendation and Research on Recess and Physical Activity: Impact on Student Health and Academic, Social and Emotional Development(Word 80K)
REVISED: May 9, 2011 - Attached is research and subsequent recommendations on the impact of recess and physical activity on student health and academic, social and emotional development as compiled and approved by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their May 5, 2008 meeting. This document was prepared specifically to support local school districts in their efforts to comply with SB530, passed during the 80th legislative session.
A sample school district resolution on Recommendations on Recess for Elementary School Students is provided here for use with local school health advisory councils.
Sample School District Resolution: Recommendations on Recess for Elementary School Students (Word 57K)
Recommendations and Research on Student Consumption of Regular and Diet Sodas in High Schools (Word 74K)
REVISED: November 12, 2012 - The school environment has a strong impact on influencing the consumption of nutrient rich foods of our school children. It is important to establish regulations that create a healthier environment and promote healthy foods and beverages. It has also been a concern that sweetened and unsweetened carbonated beverages displaces the consumption of healthier beverages. Linked here are revised research and the subsequent recommendations on the availability of sodas in Texas high schools as originally developed and approved by the TSHAC membership at their March 3, 2008, meeting. The recommendations relating to beverages sold or served to students are to provide support and recommendations to the Texas Department of Agriculture in order to provide assistance in implementing Texas Public School Policy regulations in an effort to create a healthy school environment.
Recommendation and Research on School Bus and Automobile Idling (Word 121K)
REVISED: May 9, 2011 - Attached is research and a subsequent recommendation on school bus and car idling for use with school districts as compiled by TSHAC member Tracy Biediger, M.D. and originally approved by the TSHAC membership at their March 3, 2008 TSHAC meeting.