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1996 Massachusetts School Health Education Profile Report

June 1997

Dear Parents, Students, and Colleagues:

We are pleased to present the results of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's 1996 School Health Education Profile Survey (SHEP). During the Spring of 1996, principals and lead health education teachers in over 380 randomly selected schools completed questionnaires to provide important information on the status of health education in middle and high schools throughout Massachusetts. The high degree of cooperation and support from teachers and administrators yielded high participation rates for the survey.

Because the SHEP was conducted in 1994 as well as 1996, the current report contains longitudinal data. According to the results of the 1996 SHEP, Massachusetts has made steady progress in strengthening health education in grades 6 through 12 since 1994. Significantly more schools are requiring health education at every grade level, teachers are increasing coverage of many important health topics, HIV/AIDS prevention education is occurring at more grade levels, and parents are becoming more involved in health education. Comprehensive health education in Massachusetts will continue to improve with sustained efforts from teachers and administrators to build upon current programs. In particular, further emphasis on health education is needed throughout the high school years, a time when risk-taking behaviors begin to rise among youth.

The enclosed findings show numerous improvements by local districts in providing health education which have occurred simultaneously with the development and use of the Health Curriculum Framework. Schools can use the results of this report to learn about other schools' activities and to guide further improvements in their health education programs. At the state level, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and other public and private agencies can use this information to mark improvements and set further goals for comprehensive health education. The ultimate test however, is in the results - are students changing their risk-behaviors as a result? This most important measure is the one we need to continue to track closely in the years ahead.

Thank you for your continued commitment to improving the health and quality of the life for Massachusetts youth.

Sincerely,

Robert V. Antonucci
Commissioner of Education

SHEP Table of Contents