SHPPS Overview

Background

The School Health Policies and Practices Study* (SHPPS), the largest, most comprehensive assessment of school health policies and practices in the United States, is conducted at the state, district, school, and classroom levels nationwide. SHPPS assesses the characteristics of eight components of school health at the elementary, middle, and high school levels:

• Health education
• Physical education and activity
• Health services
• Mental health and social services
• Nutrition services
• Healthy and safe school environment
• Faculty and staff health promotion
• Family and community involvement

SHPPS was conducted in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012. School- and classroom-level data collection will take place in 2014.

Purpose

SHPPS is designed to help answer the following questions:

• What are the characteristics of each component of school health at the state, district, school, and classroom levels and across elementary, middle, and high schools?
• Are there persons responsible for coordinating and delivering each component of school health, and what are their qualifications and educational backgrounds?
• What collaboration occurs among staff from each component of school health and with staff from outside agencies and organizations?
• How have key policies and practices changed over time?

For More Information

To learn more about SHPPS, including SHPPS 2012, contact us.