Kentucky Department of Education

In Kentucky schools, we will make available high quality counseling, psychological and social services. This will engage students in activities that focus on cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social needs of individuals, groups, and families. It will be designed to prevent and address problems, facilitate positive learning and healthy behavior, and enhance healthy development.

All of Kentucky schools will enjoy a healthy environment including the physical, emotional and social climate of the school. Schools are designed to provide a safe physical plant, as well as a healthy and supportive environment that fosters learning.

​In Kentucky schools, we will deliver classroom instruction that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health; develops health knowledge, attitudes, and skills; and is tailored to each age level. It will motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their health, prevent disease, and reduce health-related risk behaviors.

Physical activity, nutrition and tobacco (PANT) related behaviors play a major role in the health of many Kentuckians. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), these three modifiable risk factors contribute to nearly seventy percent of the cardiovascular diseases and conditions throughout our Commonwealth.

With the increase of health-related conditions and diseases (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, overweight and obesity) among our children and youth, and a decrease in the amount of physical activity and nutrition education, parents, schools and community leaders are growing concerned.

In Kentucky schools, we will provide planned, sequential instruction that promotes lifelong physical activity. It will be designed to develop basic movement skills, lifelong sports skills, and physical fitness as well as to enhance mental, social, and emotional abilities. It will be delivered on a regular basis.

The School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a system of surveys developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess school health policies and programs in states and large urban school districts. The Profiles survey is conducted in Kentucky biennially among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers.

A critical link in developing and sustaining coordinated school health programs at the local level requires ongoing learning and skill development. Kentucky's CSH Initiative collaborates with numerous partners to provide quality professional development events. By celebrating successful programs occurring throughtout the state and challenging local communities to implement additional innovative strategies, student achievement and health status are positively impacted.

The Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted as part of a national effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) to monitor students’ health-risk behaviors in six priority areas. These six areas include injury and violence, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors. These risk behaviors contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the U.S.