School Health Policies and Programs Study

The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels.

SHPPS is used to

• Monitor the status of the nation's school health policies and programs.
• Describe the training, experience, and responsibilities of the personnel who deliver each component of the school health program.
• Describe coordination among components of school health programs.
• Describe relationships between state and district policies and school health programs and practices.
• Identify factors that facilitate or impede delivery of effective school health programs.

SHPPS provides information about the extent to which school health policies and programs are addressing the leading causes of death, illness, and social problems among young people and adults.

These causes are

• Behaviors contributing to unintentional and intentional injury.
• Tobacco use.
• Alcohol and other drug use.
• Sexual behaviors.
• Unhealthy dietary behaviors.
• Physical inactivity.

SHPPS was first conducted in 1994. It assessed the following components of school health programs: health education, health services, physical education, food service, and health policies. This assessment was designed to be an integral part of four interrelated strategies implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help schools improve their school health programs. These strategies are

• Identifying and monitoring critical health events and school interventions designed to influence those events.
• Synthesizing and applying research to increase the effectiveness of interventions.
• Enabling constituencies to plan and implement interventions.
• Evaluating the impact of interventions over time.

Data Collection

State Level — A mail survey with mail and telephone follow-up was used to survey state education agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey assessed organizational structure, program requirements, relevant policies, professional preparation, and coordination among components of the school health program.

District Level — A nationally representative sample of public and private school districts serving students in grades K-12 was surveyed by mail with mail and telephone follow-up. The survey assessed organizational structure, program requirements, relevant policies, professional preparation, and coordination among components of the school health program.

School Level — A nationally representative sample of public and private middle or junior high schools and senior high schools was surveyed through on-site structured interviews with principals, teachers, nurses, food service directors, and counselors. The survey assessed the implementation of each component area.

Classroom Level — Randomly selected health education and physical education teachers in participating schools were surveyed using on-site structured interviews. The survey addressed topics taught; teaching methods and activities; type of assessment used; and the teachers' professional preparation, training, and experience.