BRIDGING STUDENT HEALTH RISKS AND ACADEMIC-ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-HEALTH PROGRAMS

In the National Action Plan for Comprehensive School Health Education, representatives from over 40 health, education, and social service or ganizations viewed education and health as interdependent systems. par ticipants concluded that healthy children learn better and they cautio ned that no curriculum can compensate for deficiencies in student heal th status. While literature confirms the complexity of health issues c onfronting today's students, schools face enormous pressure to improve academic skills. Local school leaders and stakeholders often remain u nconvinced that improving student health represents a means to achievi ng improved academic outcomes. A rich body of literature confirms a di rect link between student health risk behavior and education outcomes, education behaviors, and student attitudes about education. This arti cle summarizes relevant information concerning the health risk behavio ral categories of intentional injuries; tobacco, alcohol, and other dr ugs; dietary, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors.