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IHAM Health Education MD

File: IHAM

LEVERETT SCHOOL COMMITTEE

HEALTH EDUCATION

The School Committee believes that the greatest opportunity for effective health education lies within the public schools because of their potential to reach children at the age when positive, lifelong health habits are best engendered and because the schools are equipped to provide qualified personnel to conduct health education programs.

The School Committee is committed to a sound, comprehensive, research-based health education program as an integral part of each student's general education. The health education program will emphasize a contemporary approach to the presentation of health information, skills, and the knowledge necessary for students to understand and appreciate the functioning and proper care of the human body. Health education may be taught as a separate academic discipline in grades K through 6; health education may also be integrated throughout the curriculum. Additionally, conversations about bodies, health, wellness and identity occur throughout the school day. Given this breadth, integration and intersection with other curricula, all teachers and staff must consider the mandates of this policy as they approach conversations about bodies, health, wellness, and identity with students even outside the specific health education courses. The curricula across Leverett Elementary School will be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and evidence-based.

Students also will be presented with information regarding complex social, physical and mental health problems, which they might encounter in society. In an effort to help students make intelligent choices on alternative behavior of serious personal consequence, health education will examine the potential health hazards of social, physical and mental problems existing in the larger school-community environment.

Health Education at Leverett Elementary School recognizes that health and wellness curricula, however well-intentioned, can perpetuate bias and discrimination. Leverett Elementary School stands against this legacy by selecting health materials that specifically acknowledge and affirm the full range of differences in sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, athleticism, as well as body size and shape. Additionally, the Health Education Curriculum will include examples of how systemic discrimination and bias impact human health and identity. In this way children may better understand the social forces that impact their bodies, sexualities and access to equitable health care.

In order to promote a relevant, dynamic approach to the instruction of health education, the School Committee will continue to stress the need for curricular, personnel, and financial commitments that are necessary to assure the high quality of the district's health education program.

Edited by the Leverett Policy Committee:  12/6/21
First Reading by Leverett School Committee:  1/3/22
Second Reading, First Vote by Leverett School Committee:  2/9/22
Final Vote by Leverett School Committee:  3/7/22