The term school groups refers to the various individuals and groups that are invested in the welfare of a school and its students, such as advocacy groups, Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Organization (PTA/PTO), school board members, or school wellness committees.

These resources are typically delivered by school groups that work with parents (e.g., school health personnel, advisory councils, and action teams). Others who may deliver these resources are those who disseminate school health materials to groups who work with parents (e.g., school nutrition directors, school administrators, community members, or community organizations) and parents themselves.

Yes. For the purposes of this course, the word parent refers to the adult primary caregiver(s) of a child’s basic needs (e.g., feeding, safety). This definition includes biological parents; other biological relatives, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings; and nonbiological parents, such as adoptive, foster, or stepparents.

In addition to the term “students,” the words “child,” “children,” and “adolescents,” are all used interchangeably throughout this course to refer to students in grades K‒12.

The Parents for Healthy Schools course focuses on three areas:

1. School nutrition environment and services
2. Physical education and physical activity
3. Health services to manage chronic health conditions

These areas are particularly important because of the effect they have on the health of students now and throughout their lives. Additionally, the three areas have clear actions that can be taken at home and in school that will help students make healthy choices.